Malcolm Turnbull to quit if Liberal party votes for another spill
MALCOLM Turnbull has hit out at rebel “bullies” he says have “intimidated” MPs into supporting a change in leadership. He also said he will resign if a signed petition with 43 signatures is presented and the party agrees to another leadership spill tomorrow.
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PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull has hit out at rebel “bullies” he says have “intimidated” Liberal MPs into supporting the change in leadership they are seeking.
“The reality is that a minority in the party room supported by others outside the Parliament have sought to bully, intimidate others into making this change of leadership that they’re seeking,” he said.
“It is a — it’s been described by many people, including those who feel they cannot resist it as a form — resist it — as a form of madness.”
In a turmultuous day in federal politics, Mr Turnbull — Australia’s 29th prime minister — today said he would resign if the Liberal rebels challenging his leadership presented him with a letter with 43 signatures on it proving he had lost the support of his party.
He would then hold a leadership spill at midday tomorrow, in which Treasurer Scott Morrison would run as a candidate for the prime ministership against challenger Peter Dutton.
“I now await a letter with the signatures of a majority of the party room,” he said.
“If I receive it — which is 43 — if I receive that then I will convene a new party room meeting.
“As soon as I get that, my intention is to hold a party meeting at midday tomorrow.”
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Mr Turnbull has also questioned the eligibility of challenger Peter Dutton to sit in Parliament.
“It’s important that before the party meeting is held, we have access to the advice of the
Solicitor-General on the eligibility of Mr Dutton to sit in the Parliament and we expect that advice to be available first thing in the morning.
“As we all know section 44 has been a companion of this 45th Parliament, but we can — I cannot underline too much how important it is that anyone who seeks to be Prime Minister of Australia is eligible to be a member of Parliament.”
HOW IT UNFOLDED:
- THURS: Mr Dutton says he will quit Cabinet if he can’t agree with government policy.
- FRI: Mr Turnbull weighs up significant changes to the National Energy Guarantee.
- SAT: Mr Dutton tweets his support for PM and government policies.
- MON: Mr Turnbull drops 26 per cent emissions target from NEG legislation and says Dutton has given him “absolute support”.
- TUES: Turnbull calls a spill and is challenged by Mr Dutton, who loses 48-35. Mr Dutton resigns from Cabinet.
- WED: Mr Dutton launches media campaign and refuses to rule out second challenge.
- THURS: Mr Dutton says he has support to become PM and demands a second challenge. Mr Turnbull says he will resign if presented with enough signatures and hold a spill at noon tomorrow. Mr Morrison is expected to stand if Mr Turnbull resigns.
Mr Turnbull labelled the events of this week appalling.
“Australians will be rightly appalled by what they’re witnessing in their nation’s Parliament today and in the course of this week,” he said.
Levelling a threat at his dissenters, he pledged to resign from Parliament if overthrown.
Still unconvinced he has lost the support of his colleagues, Mr Turnbull raised the possibility that if he calls a spill motion tomorrow it may not be carried.
“It may be that the spill motion is not carried and I remain Prime Minister and we can try to restore some stability,” he said.
The Daily Telegraph reported today the Treasurer Scott Morrison emerged as a consensus candidate, to potentially bridge the gap between warring moderate and conservative factions of the party.
In an olive branch to the conservatives, Mr Morrison has been in discussions with Health Minister Greg Hunt about offering him the role of Treasurer.
Mr Hunt committed to support both Mr Turnbull and Mr Dutton ahead of Tuesday’s leadership spill, colleagues said.
After the spill, he was exposed for having supported the former Home Affairs Minister.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has been considering her options and whether she will stand as a candidate for the prime ministership.
Mr Turnbull called and won the first leadership spill on Tuesday morning to remain Australia’s prime minister.
He secured a narrow seven-vote victory, which deputy prime minister Julie Bishop had said “confirmed” Mr Turnbull’s leadership in an “overwhelming” and “resounding” result.
The Daily Telegraph has reported that Mr Turnbull asked the ministers who offered their resignation to pledge not to challenge or vote against him in future spills.
Some of the ministers were understood to be highly uncomfortable with the request because they were loyalists to Mr Dutton.
One conservative MP, aware of the request to the ministers, said Mr Turnbull’s demand was like Kim Jong-un’s bid to be supreme leader for life.
Over the past day, 10 junior and Cabinet ministers have offered their resignations to the Prime Minister for supporting Mr Dutton in the spill.
Mr Turnbull is understood to have said he would not accept their resignations and would keep them in his ministerial team on the condition they pledged loyalty to him.
Mr Dutton resigned his Home Affairs ministry and retreated to the backbench to build his personal brand, team and a policy manifesto in the belief he is the Coalition’s best chance to win the next federal election.
Mr Dutton said during a Sky News interview at the time that the public didn’t know the real Dutton and that he had a “self-deprecating sense of humour” and liked a drink like anyone else.
“I might have a reputation out of the border control,” he said.
“In the immigration portfolio you are defined by Nauru and Manus.
“I didn’t put anyone on Nauru or Manus, I got people off. If I could have brought them to Australia I would have but I would have seen people drown at sea.
“I think the opportunity for me as a backbencher now is to talk to people. I have a self-deprecating sense of humour and like a drink like anyone else.
“It is an opportunity for me to talk about the other side of me the public might not know.”
MALCOLM’S TIME IN OFFICE