How the leadership challenge unfolded

Scott Morrison will become the 30th Australian prime minister after a remarkable week in politics. But how did we get here?

THURSDAY, AUGUST 16

Peter Dutton says he will quit cabinet if he gets to a point where he can’t agree with government policy.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19

Cabinet meets at parliament to discuss changes to energy policy.

MONDAY, AUGUST 20

The PM drops the 26 per cent emissions cut target from NEG legislation. Turnbull says Dutton has given “absolute support” to him.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 21

Turnbull calls a spill and is challenged by Dutton, who loses 48-35. Dutton resigns from cabinet. A slew of ministers offer resignations but Turnbull only accepts Concetta Fierravanti-Wells and Dutton.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22

Dutton refuses to rule out a second challenge, launching a media campaign calling for a royal commission into fuel and energy prices and the scrapping of the GST from electricity prices.

Turnbull dumps corporate tax cuts after the plan was voted down in the Senate, and ditches plans to axe an energy supplement paid to welfare recipients. Finance Minister Mathias Cormann says he supports the prime minister.

A petition to force a Liberal partyroom meeting is circulated. Cormann, Communications Minister Mitch Fifield and Jobs Minister Michaelia Cash visit Turnbull to tell him he no longer has the support of the majority of the party room.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 23

Junior minister Zed Seselja and Michael Sukkar resign from the frontbench. Dutton demands a second leadership spill. Cormann, Fifield and Cash pull their support for Turnbull and resign from cabinet.

Turnbull says Liberal MPs need to see the advice from the solicitor-general on the eligibility of Dutton after reports he could be in breach of the constitution over his stake in two childcare centres.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24

Solicitor-General Stephen Donaghue QC finds Dutton “not incapable of sitting as a member of the House of Representatives”, clearing the way for him to challenge Malcolm Turnbull.

Malcolm Turnbull resigns after a motion to spill the leadership narrowly passes 45-40.

In the first round of voting, it’s a three-way contest between Julie Bishop, Peter Dutton and Scott Morrison. Bishop, the most popular contender among voters, is knocked out first.

In the second round of voting, Scott Morrison defeats Peter Dutton by 45 votes to 40, becoming the 30th Prime Minister of Australia.