Malcolm Turnbull takes aim at Peter Dutton and Tony Abbott as he steps down as PM

MALCOLM Turnbull has outlined his legacy in his final press conference as Prime Minister, while taking a swipe at disloyal “insurgents” Peter Dutton and Tony Abbott.

MALCOLM Turnbull has outlined his legacy in his final press conference as Prime Minister, while taking a swipe at disloyal “insurgents” Peter Dutton and Tony Abbott.

While claiming he was grateful to the Australian people for supporting him, he said he still intended to quit his seat of Wentworth, depriving Prime Minister-elect Scott Morrison of the one-seat majority he needs to govern.

And despite rolling former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Mr Turnbull said the Australian public would be shocked by the events that unfolded this week.

“(They would be) dumbstruck that a government would be rocked by this disloyalty … deliberate, disruptive action,” he said.

“Many Australians will just be shaking their heads in disbelief at what’s been done.”

Mr Turnbull, who cancelled Parliament yesterday and referred Mr Dutton to the Solicitor-General, denied he had any responsibility for this week’s chaos.

“Insofar as there has been chaos this week it has been created by the wreckers. I have done everything I can to maintain stability in the government and stability in the party but if people are determined to wreck they will do so,” he said.

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Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull today.

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Mr Turnbull said he was “impressed” in the party room meeting “by colleagues who voted for loyalty, over disloyalty”.

“Insurgents were not rewarded by electing Mr Dutton,” he said.

“(There was) determined insurgency by people in party room and backed by powerful voices in the media.

Outgoing Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s last wave as he holds his granddaughter, Alice. Picture: AAP

“If not to bring down the government than certainly to bring down my prime ministership.

“It was extraordinary and described by many as madness and I think it’s difficult to describe it any other way.”

He said policy difference resolved with goodwill and he hadn’t been lagging severely in polls before his knifing.

Mr Turnbull also acknowledged it was very difficult to find common ground in the coalition on climate change policy.

“Disunity is death in Australian politics,” he said.

Incumbent Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. Picture: AP

“Peter Dutton, Tony Abbott and others who chose to deliberately attack the government from within they did so because they anted to bring the government down, they wanted to bring my prime ministership down while the consequences is I’m no longer prime minister, instead of Mr Dutton being prime minister Mr Morrison is.”

He will be quitting parliament “not before too long” indicating a by-election will be held in his Wentworth seat.

Mr Turnbull heaped praised on his successor Scott Morrison as a “loyal and effective” treasurer.

He also said former deputy leader Julie Bishop was a “very dear friend” for over 30 years and thank her for her work.

Mr Turnbull listed his achievement in company tax cuts, same sex marriage, the child abuse national redress scheme, Snowy Hydro 2.0 and the second airport at Badgerys Creek.

He also said he was proud of securing the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the resettlement deal with the United States for refugees on Manus Island and Nauru.

PM Malcolm Turnbull today. Picture Kym Smith

Mr Turnbull called out moderate faction leaders Marise Payne and Christopher Pyne as “outstanding ministers” for their work in the defence sector.

Joined by his wife Lucy and daughter Daisy, and her children, Mr Turnbull said they had been subject to criticism in an attempt to attack him.

“It’s been tough on them at times but I want to thank them for their solidarity,” he said.

“Finally I want to thank the Australian people for everything they have done for me. It has been such a privilege to be the leader of this great nation, I love Australia … we are the most successful multicultural society in the world.

“We have so much going for us in this country and we must be proud of it and cherish it.”

Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Picture: AAP

AS THE WORLD TURNBULLS

2016

July

The coalition scrapes back into power with a one-seat majority, scoring 50.4 per cent of the two-party vote

November

Proposed same-sex marriage plebiscite is defeated in the Senate

December

Government passes controversial backpacker tax

2017

January

Turnbull reshuffles cabinet after an expenses scandal forces the resignation of health minister Sussan Ley

February

PM hoses down reports he was berated by US President Donald Trump over a refugee swap deal

Cory Bernardi quits the Liberals to start his own Australian Conservatives party

March

Small business tax cuts pass parliament, but broader plan stalls

April

Turnbull unveils plans to make it harder to become an Australian citizen

May

Treasurer Scott Morrison hands down his second budget, announcing a gradual thaw of the Medicare rebate freeze that almost cost Turnbull the election

June

New bank levy clears parliament

Turnbull responds to Chief Scientist Alan Finkel’s review of the energy market with new rules to restrict gas exports and a plan to scrap a process that allows power companies to raise prices

Major school funding overhaul, aka Gonski 2.0, clears parliament with crossbench support

July

Citizenship debacle begins with Greens senator Scott Ludlam resigning. Coalition two-party position slips to 45 per cent.

August

Pauline Hanson wears a burqa in parliament. Attorney-General George Brandis describes it as an “appalling thing to do”

September

Cabinet minister Fiona Nash and crossbencher Nick Xenophon referred to the High Court over their dual citizenship

October

The High Court boots Barnaby Joyce from parliament because of his dual New Zealand citizenship, while federal minister Matt Canavan and Nick Xenophon can remain

November

61.6 per cent of Australians say yes to same-sex marriage in a postal survey

Turnbull announces a royal commission into misconduct in the financial sector

December

Barnaby Joyce wins by-election and tells parliament that he is separated

Same-sex marriage is legalised after new laws clear federal parliament

Labor senator Sam Dastyari quits parliament over his Chinese donor connections

2018

January

Turnbull pledges a year of “rewards” for Australians after two years of economic reforms

February

After news of his affair with a former staffer breaks in the media, Barnaby Joyce resigns as deputy prime minister and Nationals leader

March

Turnbull says Liberal win in South Australian election is an endorsement of the government’s energy plan

April

Turnbull loses his 30th consecutive Newspoll and shrugs it off as ministers rally around him

May

Katy Gallagher case in the High Court leads to more citizenship resignations, this time on the Labor side and crossbencher Rebekha Sharkie

June

The government’s $144 billion personal income tax cut plan passes parliament

July

A “super Saturday” of five by-elections brings no wins for the government, with four seats returning to Labor and one crossbench MP

August

Barnaby Joyce and Tony Abbott speak out over the direction of the government. * Malcolm Turnbull defeats Peter Dutton 48-35 in a party room leadership ballot. Dutton resigns from frontbench.

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