Liberal Party calls unscheduled meeting on ‘leadership rules’ after Malcolm Turnbull intervenes

Two-thirds of Liberal MPs would be needed to spill the leadership and knife a prime minister elected by the public under historic party changes announced by Scott Morrison on Monday night. Under the new rules both Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull would’ve been safe.

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PRIME Minister Scott Morrison will ensure sitting Liberal PMs cannot be rolled unless a massive two-thirds of the party room is against them in a historic political reform which Tony Abbott last night labelled “atonement”.

Mr Morrison consulted with Liberal party elder John Howard on the reforms, with the party room agreeing to the major change late last night.

“Australians have the very reasonable expectation that when they elect a government, when they elect a prime minister they should be the ones to determine if that PM does not continue in the office,” Mr Morrison said.

The Prime Minister and the Treasurer at the press conference at Parliament House on Monday night. Picture: Gary Ramage

The changes — the biggest to the Liberal party in 74 years — aim to arrest the growing voter frustration with the “revolving door” of politics.

Mr Morrison said he understood those frustrations and acknowledged them.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott — who lost the leadership to Malcolm Turnbull in 2015 — addressed the room, saying it was “atonement” for the party.

He said human beings were fragile and given to “fear and greed” and even more so in the parliament. He said this was why such changes and checks and balances were required.

Mr Abbott took the opportunity to re-state his support for Mr Morrison in a show of unity.

“Abbott’s sentiment carried the room,” one senior MP said. “He set the mood and the party followed.”

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The changes announce on Monday night are the biggest for the Liberal Party in 74 years. Picture: Gary Ramage

After Labor’s recent leadership turmoil Kevin Rudd — in his second coming as leader — led the push for a new rule which would require 75 per cent of federal Labor MPs to support a change of the elected Prime Minister. If there were two candidates it would also require a vote of all rank-and-file members.

But in 2015 the ALP dumped the rules from its national platform, which means the it could be overturned by a simple majority of caucus.

Mr Morrison used this to argue that the Liberals’ new rule was a better safeguard than what Labor has in place.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg in House in Parliament House in Canberra on Monday night. Picture: Gary Ramage

Setting a higher threshold of 75 per cent, rather than two thirds, was discussed in the room but was not widely supported with MPs fearing it could create a dictator. Of the two-thirds threshold, Mr Morrison said last night: “In my experience around this place such a majority is rarely if ever achieved.”

MPs are understood to have spoken about the “anger” within the supporter base about what the parliamentary team had done to the party, beginning with Mr Turnbull’s ousting of Mr Abbott.

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull speaks to the media as he leaves his residence in Point Piper on Monday. Picture: AAP

One backbencher said the room held the view that it was important to prove to voters “we have heard you and now we can show you”.

The reforms came about after Mr Morrison tasked the party whips to consider the matter, and bring forward a proposal.

This was taken to the Ministry last night before the liberal party room.

The history of the Australian prime ministerial revolving door.

MPs questioned certain details of the change, including whether there should be a sunset clause, but in the end the motion carried without amendment.

Liberal deputy leader Josh Frydenberg said there had been “constructive contributions” but the party agreed on the way ahead.

Tony Abbott during Question Time in the House of Representatives Chamber in Canberra on Monday. Picture: Kym Smith

The reforms came after ex-PM Malcolm Turnbull continued his extraordinary intervention in Mr Morrison’s leadership, after urging moderates to defy the PM’s wish to endorse the preselection of all sitting members.

Liberal MPs were yesterday urging Mr Morrison to “publicly finish off” Mr Turnbull as even his former allies condemned his ongoing political interference.

Mr Turnbull’s actions in recent days have attracted widespread condemnation from Liberal Party members. Picture: AAP

MPs from all sides were yesterday privately lashing out at Mr Turnbull with some calling for him to be publicly repudiated or even expelled from the party.

Mr Morrison did not consult with Mr Turnbull on the party room PM rule changes.