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PoliticsNow: Scott Morrison sworn in as Australia’s 30th Prime Minister

PoliticsNow: Scott Morrison has laid out his immediate priorities after being sworn in as Australia’s 30th Prime Minister.

Rachel Baxendale, Greg Brown and Rosie Lewis
67 min read
5:29PMAugust 24, 2018.
Updated 8:34PMAugust 24, 2018
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Meet your Prime Minister: Scott Morrison

Hello and welcome to PoliticsNow, The Australian’s live blog on the goings on in Canberra. Scott Morrison has been elected the new leader of the Liberal Party and was sworn in as Prime Minister after Malcolm Turnbull resigned. A spill motion was narrowly passed 45-40.

8.30pm: Pyne’s Turnbull tribute

Liberal MP Christopher Pyne has paid tribute to Malcolm Turnbull in a statement released tonight.

Pyne lauded Turnbull as “one of the great Prime Ministers in modern Australian history”.

“He leaves the Prime Minister’s office with Australia experiencing a strong economy and strong jobs growth further boosted through significant tax reductions for Australian wage earners and small and medium businesses,” Pyne said.

“He brought his sharp intellect, vision, and compassion to deliver for the country.

“I thank Malcolm for the opportunity to serve alongside him in his Government. This has been the most rewarding part of my 25 year political career so far.”

Malcolm Turnbull, left, with Christopher Pyne. Picture: Kym Smith
Malcolm Turnbull, left, with Christopher Pyne. Picture: Kym Smith

Jamie Walker 7.15pm: Beaten Dutton asked back to cabinet

Scott Morrison has opened the door for Peter Dutton to return to cabinet, praising the job his leadership opponent did as immigration and home affairs minister.

The new Prime Minister said there would be a role for Mr Dutton in the government if he wanted it. There has been no hint from Mr Dutton of his intentions, but after losing the Liberal leadership ballot 40-45 votes to Mr Morrison, he immediately threw his support behind the incoming PM.

Read more here

Peter Dutton. Picture: Sean Davey
Peter Dutton. Picture: Sean Davey

6.40pm: Turnbull signs off

Greg Brown 6.18pm: Frydenberg sworn in as Treasurer

Josh Frydenberg has been sworn in as Treasurer by Governor-General Peter Cosgrove.

Deputy Liberal leader Josh Frydenberg, left, with Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove. Picture: AAP
Deputy Liberal leader Josh Frydenberg, left, with Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove. Picture: AAP

Greg Brown 6.15pm: Morrison sworn in as 30th Prime Minister

Scott Morrison has been sworn in as Australia’s 30th Prime Minister by Governor-General Peter Cosgrove.

“I, Scott John Morrison, swear I will well and truly serve the people of Australia in the office of Prime Minister, and I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, so help me God,” Morrison said.

New Prime MInister Scott Morrison is sworn in by Sir Peter Cosgrove. Picture: Ray Strange
New Prime MInister Scott Morrison is sworn in by Sir Peter Cosgrove. Picture: Ray Strange

Rosie Lewis 6.11pm: Hogan goes his own way

Nationals MP Kevin Hogan has reaffirmed he will sit on the crossbench as an “independent Nat” in protest of the Liberal leadership turmoil, giving him more freedom to vote against government bills.

Mr Hogan has guaranteed his support for the government on key issues of confidence and supply but may vote against Coalition legislation despite still sitting in the Nationals partyroom.

“I know Scott well, I know Josh even better, and they are great people and I am going to do what I can to support them and make sure we have a stable government,” he told The Australian.

“(Moving to the crossbench) is a matter of principle, it’s a matter of integrity. It’s been quite an emotional week in that place and I thought if I didn’t say anything I was condoning it almost and I needed to make a statement with what has occurred over the last 10 years.”

Rachel Baxendale 5.37pm: Morrison, Frydenberg ‘loyal’ to Turnbull

Asked why his party had removed a sitting prime minister, Mr Morrison said he and Mr Frydenberg had supported Mr Turnbull.

“You are looking to people who did not do that today and who were very loyal and committed to the government that we were privileged to form part of, as we had been previously, under the former (Abbott) government,” he said.

“We will provide the stability and the unity and the direction and the purpose that the Australian people expect of us as leaders of our party and those of our great nation.”

Rachel Baxendale 5.35pm: Morrison coy on NEG, Abbott

Mr Morrison was noncommittal when asked whether the national energy guarantee would be dumped as a policy, and whether there was any prospect of Tony Abbott serving in his ministry.

“These are going to matters of detail at this stage that we are not going to go into,” he said.

“Our government is going to put electricity prices down. We will put in place what we have said from the ACCC report, which is to put in a safety net on price.

“We will use the big stick to ensure that the big energy companies do the right thing by you, the customers, and we are backing investment in new energy generation capacity.

“That is what we will be doing. Specific matters of policy and any changes in that area, I’ll consult with my new cabinet.”

Rachel Baxendale 5.33pm: Morrison on Turnbull’s departure

Mr Morrison said he was aware of Mr Turnbull’s intention to leave politics, but was making no assumptions about timing.

“Once the government, and particularly Josh and I have been sworn into our respective roles, we anticipate this evening, we will go through the normal process of government,” he said.

“We intend to be governing, and we have got able to do as a fresh new team, so I don’t think anybody should be making any plans for any elections any time soon.

“The Prime Minister, as he currently is, has indicated to me that at some time he will be moving away from politics, and I understand and respect that, and I understand it fully.

“But those arrangements, as yet, have not been activated, and so I am not making any assumptions on that point.

“I wish Malcolm and his family well. They will spend some time together in each other’s arms, as they always are, and we will deal with those matters.”

Mr Morrison said he looked forward to his “first electoral test as a government”, namely a by-election in Mr Turnbull’s seat of Wentworth.

“I know the beaches of Bronte pretty well, having grown up on them as a kid, and played footy on the local fields, and I look forward to going back and probably getting to pop in and see mum and dad while I am about,” he said.

5.24pm: Labor’s social media campaign begins

He’s yet to be sworn in, but that hasn’t stopped Labor from getting on the front foot with their attack on Scott Morrison.

Labor Scott Morrison social media post.
Labor Scott Morrison social media post.

Rachel Baxendale 5.01pm: Morrison’s ministry

Mr Morrison said he would be considering the formation of the ministry and cabinet over the course of the weekend.

“It is important, as both Josh and I remarked in the party room today, referring to both the conservative and liberal traditions of the Liberal Party, that that is reflected in the team that I bring together.

“It is also important that we provide the stability of government, which we will be able to do.

“I think today what the party voted for was that stable choice, moving to a new generation, and that means that we will have a continuity, but there will be points of emphasis and direction that we will consult with our cabinet on.

“We will consult with our colleagues, we will listen to our colleagues on the back bench, in the outer ministry, those who worked in the assistant ministry. We have to work as a team.

“Today, our team needs to look at the events of this week and how that has impacted on them.

“They have gone back to their electorates, back to their families, and they are going to listen and they are going to bring things back to us.

“Where there needs to be changes, they will be made. Where there needs to be continuity, that will be maintained.”

Rachel Baxendale 4.58pm: “Week has been about us”

Mr Frydenberg also paid tribute to Malcolm Turnbull and Julie Bishop for their “outstanding contribution” to the nation and the Liberal Party.

“It has been a tough few days, but their contribution will stand them in good stead and be remembered fondly for years to come,” Mr Frydenberg said.

“The last week has been about us, and from here on, it is about the Australian people.

“I have been privileged to work with people from all walks of life, from Devonport to Townsville, from Perth to Parramatta, and what they expect from their government is to hear their concerns and to deliver for them jobs, a reduced cost of living, and economic and national security, so my message to the Australian people today is that we are here to serve you, and that every waking hour of the Morrison government will be spent delivering for the people of Australia.”

4.55pm: Abbotts' sister may run

Tony Abbott’s sister could replace Malcolm Turnbull in the Sydney seat of Wentworth, with the city councillor considering a tilt for Liberal Party preselection.

Christine Forster says once the seat is vacated by Mr Turnbull she’ll consider entering the preselection fight.

Rosie Lewis 4.48pm: Wilkie’s courtesy call

Lower house Tasmanian crossbench MP Andrew Wilkie has revealed new Liberal deputy leader Josh Frydenberg has already given him a courtesy call, but refused to support a Morrison government on key issues of confidence or supply.

“My position has not changed. I did not guarantee supply or confidence to Malcolm Turnbull and I do not guarantee supply or confidence to Scott Morrison. I will continue to vote on the merits of all issues, as I did this week when I supported the opposition’s no confidence motion in Malcolm Turnbull,” he said.

“I’ve been in the practice of meeting regularly with the Prime Minister and other ministers and expect that practice will continue.”

Rachel Baxendale 4.45pm: Turnbull “a dear friend”

Mr Morrison thanked Mr Turnbull for his service.

“I have known Malcolm for a long time, as you know,” he said.

“He has been a dear friend. He has served his country in a noble and professional way.

“Josh and I have watched and worked with him as he has led our cabinets and the achievements we have been proud to serve with him as a government,

whether it is in the economy, whether it is in all the other areas that Malcolm has outlined today at his earlier press conference.

“He is a great Australian who has contributed a great deal to this country and our party and our nation will be very grateful for his contribution.”

Mr Morrison also paid tribute to outgoing deputy leader Julie Bishop.

“She has been a rock star for the Liberal Party, as a Foreign Minister, and on Twitter and Facebook.

“She has been an amazing contributor and a driver of foreign policy, and an advocate for Liberal values from one end of this country to the other and one end of

this world to the other, and we thank her for her service, and I will be talking to her, obviously, about what role she would like to play in the government we will now seek to put together.”

Mr Morrison thanked his vanquished leadership rival Peter Dutton.

“I actually recommended him for the job as Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, after I left it some years ago, and he has served faithfully in that role and in Home Affairs, and I look forward, if he so chooses, to him to be playing a role in the government which I intend to lead.

“Finally, though, I want to thank Josh. I have worked with Josh for many years. We didn’t run as a ticket today. That’s not how it should be, in our view.

“We knew that each of us needed to seek a mandate in our own rights to heal our party, to bring our nation together and go forward.

“So he sought his, and I sought mine. It just turns out that he voted to me and I voted for him.

“That was an expression of the natural relationship between the two of us.

Mr Morrison said he would be heading to Government House in Yarralumla to be sworn in later today and looked forward to working with Michael McCormack and the Nationals.

Rachel Baxendale 4.40pm: Morrison on drought

Mr Morrison said the government’s immediate priorities were economic and national security and the drought.

“I have already discussed this, as Josh has said, with the leader of the National Party (Michael McCormack),” he said.

“This is our most urgent and pressing need right now, and I will be meeting with Michael McCormack as soon as possible to review our drought response plans, and working with him and the Nationals and our regional and rural Liberal members to ensure that we do what is necessary to help our regional communities, our farmers, and all those affected.

“We will do what is necessary and co-ordinate with the states and territories.

“That will be my first focus, but there are many others.”

Mr Morrison spoke of the importance of keeping our country together.

“To not pit one group of Australians against another, to ensure that one can succeed, and all can succeed, that one doesn’t have to fail for another one to succeed,” he said.

“We have a lot of challenges as a country and we will get through them as we always have: together.”

He also highlighted the importance of him and Mr Frydenberg bringing their party back together as a new generation of leaders, saying the Liberals were “bruised and battered” after this week.

“That will enable us to ensure we bring the parliament back together, that we can continue to work to ensure that our country stays close together,” he said.

“We are a resilient bunch, Australians. I mean, the fact that we have had the longest running economic success of any nation in the world today is a tribute to the resilience of the Australian people, and they need that continued leadership to take them forward, not just on the economy, but on every aspect of Australian life that we feel so proud to be part of, and that Josh and I feel so proud to lead.

Rosie Lewis 4.35pm: Gillard’s tweet

Former PM Julia Gillard has tweeted her congratulations to Scott Morrison, and a message to Malcolm Turnbull “to the 29th PM from the 27th PM” promising “there is a life after”.

Meanwhile, Nationals MP Darren Chester, who threatened to sit on the crossbench as an “independent” Nat if Peter Dutton became Prime Minister, has confirmed he’ll remain in the Coalition following today’s leadership result.

Rachel Baxendale 4.30pm: “Fair go for all”

Morrison is championing shared values and beliefs which he says connect all Australians, including a “fair go for all”.

“It is why we believe that Australians should keep more of what they earn,” he said.

“It is why we believe that those who have come from so many different parts of the world to this country, to create this country, and demonstrated that by their very actions, they have sought that fair go in this country, as we all have whenever we got here: 10 generations ago, or 10 minutes ago.

“We have come to have a go and we will get a fair go, that regardless of our ability or circumstances, we are here to make a contribution, rather than take one, that in order for you to do better, you don’t think someone else has to do worse.

“This is important, values and principles that we believe deeply, that our party believes, that our government believes, and will drive us.

“We believe that the best form of welfare is a job. That is what releases people out of poverty. That is what releases people out of hardship. The dignity of work, the ability to go and have choices as a result of the efforts you make regardless of your level of ability.

“It is one of the reasons I have always been a big fan of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and why I have also been so keen to ensure it is funded, because I know that scheme releases people with disabilities to be able to do what they want to do, and that is to make a contribution and to be able to take themselves forward in their families.”

Mr Morrison said everyone had to play by the rules: “Whether you are a big business, setting electricity prices, or loaning money, or you are just someone parking in the street.”

Mr Morrison said it was important for Australians to decide their own future as individuals, families, communities and a nation.

“We all want to be able to make our own choices in life, whether it is about who comes to our country, as John Howard famously said, or what school you want your kids to go to, or what team they want to follow. I suggest the Sharks. That is not going to be a matter of national policy, I assure you.”

“We believe in choice, and because of that, it means we believe in our future.

“We are an optimistic, we are a passionate, and we are an ambitious people, full of aspiration, for ourselves, for our families, and of course for our great nation, for all of us.

“That is what we believe as Liberals. Our plan, my plan for this country, is for an even stronger Australia, to keep our economy strong, to guarantee the essentials Australians rely on.

“To keep Australians safe from terrorism, all the way down to bullying in our schools.”

Prime Minister elect Scott Morrison, right, with deputy leader of the Liberal Party Josh Frydenberg. Picture: Kym Smith
Prime Minister elect Scott Morrison, right, with deputy leader of the Liberal Party Josh Frydenberg. Picture: Kym Smith

Jared Owens 4.25pm: “Qld deserves fair go”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk issued a four-line statement following the leadership change.

“Queensland deserves a Prime Minister who understands us,” it read.

“We’ve seen billions of dollars go to New South Wales and Victoria.

“Queensland deserves a fair go.

“And we’ll keep standing up for Queensland until we get it.”

The Queensland Premier frequently complains about infrastructure spending on projects in NSW and Victoria while funding some of its signature programs, such as Cross-River Rail, from state borrowing.

Peter Dutton’s home state of Queensland is likely to be a key battleground at the next election, holding eight of the Coalition’s marginal seats.

Rachel Baxendale 4.20pm: ScoMo: I’m on your side

Australia’s Prime Minister elect Scott Morrison has begun his first press conference in the new job, flanked by deputy Liberal leader Josh Frydenberg, promising Australians he’s on their side.

“There has been a lot of talk this week about whose side people are on in this building, and what Josh and I are here to tell you, as the new generation of Liberal leadership, is that we are on your side,” Mr Morrison said.

“We are on your side because we share beliefs and values in common, as you go about everything you do each day: getting up in the morning, getting off to work, turning up on site, getting the parent you are caring for up in the morning, exchanging that smile, each and every day, getting the kids off to school, getting home at night, perhaps, if you’re lucky, a bit of time together, those happy moments, too often too far between, with the pressures that so many families face today.

“The Liberal Party is on your side. The National Party is on your side.”

Rachel Baxendale 4.15pm: Turnbull’s “strong legacy”

Nationals deputy leader Bridget McKenzie has paid tribute to Mr Turnbull, saying it has been an honour and privilege to serve in his cabinet, where she was minister for rural health, sport and regional communications.

“Malcolm Turnbull has made a real difference to the lives of people in this nation,” Senator McKenzie said.

“He leaves a strong legacy through his policies on tax relief, market access and trade agreements, record health funding, education funding, childcare reform and the creation of 1 million jobs since the last election.

“Earlier this year I joined the Prime Minister on a drought tour in regional New South Wales and I saw first-hand his concern and compassion for our farmers and their communities which resulted in the delivery of a comprehensive drought package.

“I have appreciated Malcolm’s support and friendship and I would also like to thank the staff in the prime minister’s office for their dedication and hard work.

“The Coalition has a long history of working together to deliver for regional Australia, Malcolm has always understood and delivered for the regions and I look forward to working with the new prime minister to build on the work already achieved.”

Rachel Baxendale 4.05pm: Schools hit up ScoMo

Catholic Education Commission of Victoria Chief Executive Stephen Elder has issued a statement expressing hope that the Catholic school sector’s relationship with Scott Morrison will be better than it was with the Turnbull government and education minister Simon Birmingham.

“For the past 15 months Catholic school families have demonstrated their deep concern at flawed school funding policies, as seen at the Batman and Longman by-elections,” said Mr Elder, whose robocalls and letters home to parents helped Labor in the Melbourne and Queensland seats.

“We look forward to a new approach from government and have issued a number of papers over the past 18 months that will be able to assist Mr Morrison and his education minister.

“The CECV looks forward to working with Mr Morrison to replace school SES scores with a better measure of school needs — as recommended by the National School Resourcing Board — as a matter of priority and a recognition of the importance of choice in education for Catholic school parents.”

3.50pm: ScoMo to speak at 4.15pm

Scott Morrison’s press conference has been pushed back and he will speak at 4.15pm.

Rachel Baxendale 3.40pm: Labor machine ramps up

Bill Shorten may just have issued a heartfelt statement paying tribute to Malcolm Turnbull, but the Labor machine is already gearing up to fight an election against Scott Morrison, issuing a call for donations to Labor Party members this afternoon.

“Today the architect of giving the big banks a $17 billion tax handout is set to become the prime minister,” the email from Mr Shorten says, noting the former treasurer’s role in cuts to hospitals, schools, penalty rates and the pension and record of voting against a banking royal commission 26 times.

“If this is Scott Morrison’s record as treasurer, imagine the damage he can do as prime minister,” the email says, calling for donations to help Labor win the next election which it claims could be called “any day”.

Rachel Baxendale 3.35pm: Shorten’s heartfelt message

Bill Shorten has issued a statement wishing Malcolm Turnbull, his wife Lucy and their family well following his loss of the prime ministership.

“Politics can be a brutal business,” the Labor leader said.

“For Malcolm, for Lucy, for their family and for his personal staff, who are as loyal and as close as family, this is a very hard day indeed.

“In 2016, Malcolm and I led our two parties in the longest election campaign in fifty years and in some respects, I suppose we have been engaged in that same contest in the two years since.

“But for all our verbal conflict, for all the fierce words we’ve exchanged, I hope Malcolm knows that I have always respected him as a formidable opponent, as an advocate of great intellect and eloquence and as someone who came to parliament, relatively late in life, because he was driven by the desire to serve.

“Australian politics will always need people like that, on all sides.

“The final observation I would make may seem a small thing but I believe it says a great deal.

“On many occasions, Malcolm and I would speak at the same events. I don’t think any Australian Prime Minister has used the word ‘love’ more frequently in his public remarks.

“Anyone who listened to him speak could always hear his deep and profound love for his wife Lucy, for their children and grandchildren. But also his abiding love for our country.

“I hope the future brings Malcolm plenty of relaxing paddles in the kayak, plenty of stories to read and re-read to the grandchildren — and many long and happy days with his loved ones.

“Chloe and I wish him, Lucy and their family well,” Mr Shorten said.

Rachel Baxendale 3.33pm: “Won’t solve the infighting”

Greens leader Richard Di Natale isn’t celebrating Scott Morrison’s ascension to the prime ministership, saying it “won’t solve the infighting and self interest that has paralysed Australian politics for a decade.”

“Once again, a prime minister has been turfed out not by the voters, but by a handful of faceless men,” Senator Di Natale said.

“Whether it’s the Labor Party or the Liberals, people have had a gutful, and are right to be angry.

“Sadly the result of this vote means the Liberals will remain divided and intent on payback and revenge.

“They have no climate policy, no energy policy and no economic policy and the paralysis is likely to continue. They are unfit to govern.

“Under Scott Morrison as treasurer inequality has worsened, he gave tax cuts to the rich, wages have flatlined and energy bills are up.

“As Immigration Minister he left a toxic legacy of cruelty to vulnerable people.

“The Liberals have become One Nation lite — a bunch of spiteful, backward looking, anti-immigration, climate deniers with no economic plan. It’s time to turf them out and make a fresh start.

Jared Owens 3.32pm: “Alarm and frustration”

Deb Frecklington, the leader of Queensland’s Liberal National opposition, congratulated Mr Morrison on his victory in the party room.

“I look forward to working with Prime Minister Scott Morrison on the LNP’s priorities to lower electricity bills, bust congestion and deliver better health and education results,” she said in a statement.

However Queensland’s business community expressed “alarm and frustration” at the ongoing politicking when key business issues such as tax and energy policy were “in limbo”.

“Leadership spills from both major political parties over the course of the last decade have seen a once stable democratic political system become an international embarrassment,” the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland said.

“Stability and certainty is the name of the game for Queensland businesses, and CCIQ wants to see the national interest put before short term politics.”

Michael Owen 3.30pm: SA congratulates ScoMo

The South Australian Marshall Liberal government — backed by Christopher Pyne and controlled by the moderate wing of the party — has welcomed Scott Morrison’s elevation to prime minister.

Premier Steven Marshall’s closest advisers have intimate connections with Mr Pyne’s office and some of his senior policy staff are closely linked to other moderates including Simon Birmingham.

Mr Marshall, who formed government in March after 16 years of Labor in SA, is holidaying in Italy but in a statement congratulated Mr Morrison.

“I look forward to the South Australian government’s strong working relationship continuing with the federal government under Mr Morrison’s leadership,” he said.

Acting Premier Vickie Chapman, who earlier this week dismissed leadership rumblings as the usual Canberra rumour mill, said the state government had a good relationship with Mr Morrison, who recently spoke at the SA Liberal annual general meeting.

She ignored questions about whether the moderate-backed state government was relieved that Peter Dutton, a staunch conservative from Queensland, did not prevail.

“We need to get back to continuing our work with the national team to ensure a mature, adult relationship continues and we continue to have win-wins for South Australia,” Ms Chapman said.

She said the leadership change would have no “direct” impact on South Australia.

“We are very pleased the leadership issue in Canberra has been resolved today,” Ms Chapman said.

But Mr Pyne said the process had been a farce

“I think some people of the caucus should have considered the greater good of the people of Australia and the government rather than their self-interested ambition,” he said.

Ewin Hannan 3.27pm: “Mobilise like never before”

ACTU secretary Sally McManus has urged workers to “mobilise like never before” to defeat Scott Morrison, condemning the prime minister-elect as “Australia’s biggest supporter of trickle-down economics”.

Primrose Riordan 3.25pm: By-election win “likely”

Kevin Andrews said he believes it is entirely likely the Liberal Party would win the upcoming by-election in Malcolm Turnbull’s seat of Wentworth with the Prime Minister poised to quit.

He said it was more likely the election will be held next year.

Rachel Baxendale 3.20pm: Hunt’s “two great friends”

Greg Hunt, who was unsuccessful in his bid for the deputy leadership, has congratulated “two great friends and two outstanding people” in Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg for being elected leader and deputy leader of the Liberal Party.

Mr Hunt received 16 votes, to Steven Ciobo’s 20 and Mr Frydenberg’s 46, with three abstentions.

“I have known both for many years and they possess all the qualities needed to lead our party and our nation into the future,” Mr Hunt said.

“They represent the next generation of the Liberal leadership team and present an opportunity to move forward as one.

“Our job now is to advocate for, and deliver more and better paid jobs, lower electricity prices and continue our record investment in new medicines, hospitals, medical research and mental health,” the former health minister said.

“I want to thank Malcolm Turnbull and Julie Bishop for their leadership and service to the nation.”

3.10pm: “That” list

A copy of the petition featuring the signatures of the 43 MPs who supported the spill has hit social media. Here it is:

Primrose Riordan 3.05pm: Turnbull tribute

The Prime Minister’s daughter, Daisy Turnbull, has paid tribute to her father on Instagram.

“Could not be prouder of Baba. You are the greatest man, and achieved so much as our prime minister. We’ll always have your back,” she said.

Primrose Riordan 3pm: “Malcolm may not like me”

Mathias Cormann has defended his decision to abandon Malcolm Turnbull and said he “stands by” his judgment to pull his support from the Prime Minister.

“Malcolm may probably not like me for some time,” he told Sky News.

Senator Cormann’s decision to shift his support to Peter Dutton was a major reason the second leadership spill went ahead.

Senator Cormann said he became convinced the party room had abandoned him after meetings with Cabinet Ministers and backbenchers on Tuesday.

“I was taken by surprise by the leadership ballot on Tuesday,” he said.

He said he subsequently was approached by four cabinet ministers in the morning and further later in the day who had changed their position.

Senator Cormann said he did not believe he had allowed his personal relationship with Peter Dutton to cloud his judgment.

“I’ve done the best I could to help Malcolm Turnbull … to unite the party behind him,” he told Sky News.

2.55pm: Scott Morrison speaking at 3pm

Greg Brown 2.50pm: Bishop disappointment

West Australian Liberal MP Ian Goodenough says voters in his home state would be disappointed Julie Bishop has lost the party’s deputy leadership.

“From Western Australia’s perspective yes it is always unfortunate to have lost a fellow West Australian as deputy but it was probably time for a generational change and we have got to work with the team that we have got in front of us,” Mr Goodenough said.

He would not say who he supported in the ballot.

Malcolm Turnbull with his grand daughter Alice at a press conference after the leadership vote. Picture: Sean Davey
Malcolm Turnbull with his grand daughter Alice at a press conference after the leadership vote. Picture: Sean Davey

Rachel Baxendale 2.47pm: Week “so dispiriting”

Asked what he intended to do next, Mr Turnbull joked that he might be picking his grandson Jack up from school when he starts next year.

“I came into politics at the very mature age of 50,” he said.

“I’ve had a very good time here in the parliament. I have always been focused on what I can deliver for the Australian people.

“Again, the critical thing is, with politics, it’s not about the politicians.

“That’s why this week has been so dispiriting, because it just appears to be, you know, vengeance, personal ambition, you know, factional feuding, however you describe it.”

Mr Turnbull said the Liberals should have been focused on the 25 million Australians, particularly young people like his grandchildren.

“It is the next generation that we are working for here in this place,” he said.

“There are some things that I would have liked to have completed or done more on but to be really honest with you, we have got so much more done in this government, and particularly in this parliament, than I expected, and certainly a lot more than any of you expected, as you know, sceptics that you all are.”

Mr Turnbull departed, to applause from his staff and some colleagues in attendance, wishing Scott Morrison and his team “the very best”.

Greg Brown 2.45pm: Public “pretty bemused”

Liberal MP Rowan Ramsey says the public would be “pretty bemused” by the actions of the government this week.

Mr Ramsey would not say who he backed in the ballot but said he was “pretty happy with the result”.

The South Australian MP said Peter Dutton was better known in Queensland than other states.

“I think maybe further south it is not quite the same, often Queensland is a little different from the rest of Australia when it comes to electoral matters,” he said.

He said it was an “interesting conversation” on whether the Dutton forces were inflating their numbers during the week.

Rachel Baxendale 2.42pm: ‘I’ve done all I can’

Mr Turnbull’s wife Lucy, daughter Daisy and grandchildren Jack and Alice then joined him.

He defended his decision to insist on 43 signatures on the petition for the partyroom meeting to spill his leadership.

“The fact is there was a leadership ballot on Tuesday, which I won convincingly,” Mr Turnbull said.

“The proposition that there should be almost immediately another ballot is really unprecedented, so it was reasonable for me to say, ‘If you want to call another party meeting, you’d better tell me why, show me evidence that a majority want to do that.’

“So insofar as there has been chaos this week, it has been created by the wreckers.

“I have done everything I can to maintain the stability of government and the stability of the party, but, of course, if people are determined to wreck, then they will continue to do so.”

Malcolm Turnbull waves as he holds his granddaughter, Alice.Picture: AAP.
Malcolm Turnbull waves as he holds his granddaughter, Alice.Picture: AAP.

Rachel Baxendale 2.39pm: Turnbull ‘gone soon’

Asked whether he still planned to quit parliament immediately, Mr Turnbull said he would leave “not before too long”.

“I’ve been very clear about that. It’s not a secret,” he said.

Asked whether he had any regrets, Mr Turnbull said he was focused on being positive and remained optimistic for Australia.

“I’m proud of the achievements of the government,” he said, thanking those in his office including Chief of Staff Clive Mathieson, Principal Private Secretary Sally Cray and senior adviser David Bold.

“I have never worked with a better team of people than I have in my office. They are outstanding,” Mr Turnbull said.

“And we have run a very good government in the sense that we, the cabinet hasn’t leaked very much, despite your best efforts to cause it to do so.

“We’ve been united. We’ve had a thoroughly traditional approach so that’s been good.”

Rachel Baxendale 2.34pm: ‘Aussies would be dumbstruck’

Mr Turnbull said Australians would be “dumbstruck and appalled” by his party’s conduct over the past week.

“(It’s hard) to imagine that a government would be rocked by this sort of disloyalty and deliberate, you know, insurgency, is the best way to describe it, deliberate destructive action,” he said.

“There are differences on policy but frankly all of them were able to be resolved with a little bit of goodwill.

“Of course, a month ago, as you know, as I said yesterday, were a little behind in the national polls and a little ahead in our own polls.

“I think many Australians will be shaking their head in disbelief at what’s been done.”

Mr Turnbull said disunity was “death” in Australian politics.

“The people who chose, Peter Dutton and Tony Abbott and others, who chose to deliberately attack the government from within, they did so because they wanted to bring the government down.

“They wanted to bring my prime ministership down.

“While, you know, the consequence is that I’m no longer PM, of course, instead of Mr Dutton being Prime Minister, no doubt in due course we’ll have Mr Morrison.”

Greg Brown 2.32pm: Crewther backed ScoMo

Liberal MP Chris Crewther says he voted against a spill but backed Scott Morrison in the final ballot.

“He is the man that will bring the party together,” he said.

The Victorian MP denied he was “bullied” into signing the petition but admitted there was lots of pressure from the Dutton camp.

Rachel Baxendale 2.30pm: ‘Long list of achievements’

Mr Turnbull was asked whether he regretted making concessions to conservatives within his party, particularly on the issue of climate change.

He said he had always tried to keep the party together.

“That has meant that from time to time I have had to compromise and make concessions,” Mr Turnbull said.

“It’s something I learnt from my first time as leader that you have to work so hard to keep the show together ... and that’s the bottom line.”

Mr Turnbull said his government had a “very long list” of achievements.

“In terms of energy policy and climate policy, I think the truth is that the Coalition finds it very hard to get agreement on anything to do with emissions,” he said.

“I mean, the national energy guarantee was or is a vital piece of economic reform.

“It remains the government’s policy, of course, but with a one-seat majority in the House, unless you can command all or almost all your votes you can’t get it passed.

Mr Turnbull thanked Josh Frydenberg for his work on the NEG as Energy Minister.

“If I can say this: the emissions issues and climate policy issues have the same problem within the Coalition of, you know, bitterly entrenched views that are actually sort of more ideological views than views based, as I say, on engineering and economics.

“It’s a bit like same-sex marriage used to be, almost, you know, an insoluble problem.

“We were able to sort that out. That was a significant achievement in my time as Prime Minister.

“I think I was the first Prime Minister to support legalising same-sex marriage but most importantly was able to get it done.

“As for what the future holds in terms of energy policy, again you’ll have to talk to Scott about that, but clearly there’s a great foundation in the announcements we have already made, currently rising out of the ACCC report.”

Greg Brown 2.26pm: Entsch calls for Abbott to go

Liberal MP Warren Entsch has called for Tony Abbott to leave parliament.

“I think his mission is accomplished, he has got rid of his nemesis,” Mr Entsch said.

“Everything there was purely about revenge, he has been successful in his own way.”

Mr Entsch said the party rules should change to prevent the knifing of a sitting prime minister.

He said he did not regret signing the petition because the speculation needed to stop.

He voted against he spill but would not say who he backed in the ballot.

Rachel Baxendale 2.23pm: ‘Determined insurgency’

Mr Turnbull then turned to this week’s events.

“I think you all know what’s happened. There was a determined insurgency from a number of people both in the partyroom and backed by voices, powerful voices, in the media, really to bring, not bring down the government but certainly bring down my prime ministership,” Mr Turnbull said.

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

“In the partyroom meeting today I was impressed by how many of my colleagues spoke or voted for loyalty above disloyalty, how the insurgents were not rewarded by

electing Mr Dutton, for example, but instead my successor, who I wish the very best, of course, Scott Morrison, a very loyal and effective Treasurer.

“I want to thank him, of course, for his great work, but above all I want to thank Julie Bishop.”

Mr Turnbull said Ms Bishop was a “very dear friend”

“We’ve been friends for over 30 years, which we sometimes wonder whether we should remind people of that, but nonetheless she’s a very dear friend.

“She’s been an extraordinary Foreign Minister, I would say our finest Foreign Minister, and she has been a loyal deputy and just a great colleague and friend, so I thank

Julie very much.

“As you know, she’s stood down as the deputy and she’s succeeded by Josh Frydenberg.”

Mr Turnbull also wished Mr Frydenberg well.

“He’s been a very loyal and capable minister,” he said.

Rachel Baxendale 2.21pm: ‘I love Australians’

Mr Turnbull said it had been a privilege to lead Australia.

“I love Australia. I love Australians. We are the most successful multicultural society in the world, and I have always defended that and advanced that as one of our greatest assets,” he said.

“We must never allow the politics of race or division or of setting Australians against each other to become part of our political culture.

“We have so much going for us in this country.

“We have to be proud of it and cherish it.”

Rachel Baxendale 2.16pm: ‘Proud of colleagues’

Mr Turnbull said he was proud of his government and ministers’ records.

“I want to thank them. I want to thank all my colleagues.

“I want to thank my staff but above all I want to thank my wife Lucy for her love and support.

“I want to thank our children, Alex and his wife Yvonne and our daughter Daisy and her husband James.

“It isn’t easy being either married to or the child of a politician, let alone a prime minister, and often children get attention from the media and others that they, frankly,

don’t deserve, in terms of, you know, people wanting to sort of have a crack at their father by going after them.

“So it’s been tough on them at times.

“But I want to thank them for their solidarity and loyalty and love.

“Our grandchildren, of course, are a great joy. I look forward to spending some more time with them and with Lucy. But finally, I want to thank the Australian people.”

Rachel Baxendale 2.14pm: ‘Keeping Aussies safe’

“I want to say also that keeping Australians safe is the - obviously the single most importantly priority of government,” Mr Turnbull said.

“I have had outstanding ministers in that area, particularly the Defence Minister Marise Payne and the Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne, and we have embarked on the largest investment in our defence capabilities ever in peacetime.”

On the international front, Mr Turnbull highlighted the Trans-Pacific Partnership, resettlement deal with the US to resettle migrants from Nauru and Manus Island, and achievement of exemptions from Donald Trump’s steel tariffs.

“We have been able to ensure that we could bring back the rule of law in the building sector with the Australian Building and Construction Commission.

“That was obviously one of the double dissolution triggers but again many thought that was impossible but we were able to achieve it.

“I think it has been a challenging time to be Prime Minister but I’m very proud of our record.”

Rachel Baxendale 2.11pm: ‘I was a reforming PM’

“I tell you we’re building and we’re going to build the biggest single renewable project in Australia since Snowy Hydro 1.0,” Mr Turnbull said.

He highlighted other infrastructure projects, including the Western Sydney Airport and Melbourne Airport Rail Link.

“I have been a reforming Liberal Prime Minister,” he said.

“Of course, you know, one of the many difficult political challenges that we face, particularly in the Coalition, has been the issue of marriage equality.

“Now, we have delivered that. Same-sex marriage is legal.

“We went through a postal vote, as you know, which was hugely successful, again much more successful than many thought, and we have delivered that historic reform. A very substantial one.”

Mr Turnbull noted his government’s establishment of a national redress scheme for the victims of child sexual abuse.

“We have provided record support for mental health services and indeed for health services right across the board, whether it is hospitals, Medicare, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.”

He described childcare reform as “once in a generation”, and his cities deals as a “real innovation”.

Rachel Baxendale 2.05pm: ‘I remain optimistic’

Malcolm Turnbull has begun his valedictory speech on an optimistic note.

“It may surprise you on a day like this but I remain very optimistic and positive about our nation’s future, and I want to thank the Australian people for the support they’ve given me and my government over the last nearly three years,” Mr Turnbull said.

“We’ve been able to achieve as a progressive government, as a progressive Liberal Coalition government, enormous reforms and very, very substantial achievements.”

He says his government has delivered on jobs and growth, highlighting record jobs growth and economic growth of 3.1 per cent last year, small business and personal tax cuts, infrastructure and Snowy Hydro 2.0 and declaring his commitment to renewable energy.

Greg Brown 2.00pm: Call for party rules change

Liberal MP Scott Buchholz has called for a change in party rules to make it harder to dump a sitting prime minister.

Mr Buchholz said he voted against the spill but would not say who he backed in the final ballot.

“Until the very end I supported the office of the prime minister in not having that spill motion,” he said.

Rachel Baxendale 1.57pm: Cormann congratulates ScoMo

Dutton backer Mathias Cormann has given Scott Morrison his congratulations.

Senator Cormann resigned as finance minister and government leader in the Senate yesterday, along with jobs minister Michaelia Cash and communications minister Mitch Fifield, adding momentum to Mr Dutton’s push for the leadership.

“My sincere congratulations to Scott Morrison on his election as Leader of the Liberal Party. We must now all unite and move forward together working hard for the Australian people,” Senator Cormann tweeted.

Rachel Baxendale 1.55pm: What’s best for Tassie

Dutton backer Eric Abetz says he looks forward to working with the new leadership team of Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg in the best interests of Tasmania and Australia.

“Today must mark a clean start for the parliamentary Liberal Party and having worked with Mr Morrison well over a number of years, I am certain that he will lead a more consultative parliamentary party, be more responsive to issues raised with him and actively seek to bring back together our broad church,” Senator Abetz said.

“I am looking forward to working with all my colleagues to serve the people of Australia to the very best of our abilities.

While Mr Turnbull and I have had our differences, I am appreciative in particular for his efforts in Tasmania and I wish him and Lucy well for the future,” the Tasmanian senator said.

Rosie Lewis 1.46pm: ‘Focus on future’

Liberal MP Jane Prentice said she was pleased the leadership battle was now over and the government was going to focus on the Australian people.

“Let’s focus on the future, that’s what we need to do, stop talking about ourselves,” she said.

David Rogers 1.42pm: ScoMo ‘most market-friendly’

Scott Morrison is “the most market-friendly option”, according to Annette Beacher, chief APAC macro strategist at TD.

“PM Morrison is the most market friendly option, having successfully negotiated through multiple portfolios such as Social Security, Border Security, and more recently presiding over a substantial improvement in the budget balance as Treasurer,” she says.

“Parliament and the markets will be closely watching post-vote polls to gauge if Morrison can even up the balance towards the Liberal-National coalition and away from the Labour Party under Bill Shorten.”

“The skew towards the Labour Party at this stage ensures they they will form government at the next election.”

She notes that until today’s Liberal Party leadership spill, the election chatter was for May 2019 (the latest option), or bringing it forward to October.

“As it stands, we believe the new leader needs time to garner traction with the electorate and rules out talk of a premature election,” Ms Beacher adds.

“Interviews with Liberal members after the vote are all pledging loyalty to the Morrison/Frydenberg leadership team.”

In her view the Coalition is becoming reunified toward a common goal of defeating Labor in the next election.”

Ben Packham 1.50pm: ‘Get behind leadership’

Dutton backer Steven Ciobo said urged the party to come together behind the new leadership team.

“What needs to happen now is for the party to get behind this and focus on the Australian people,” he said.

Greg Hunt said the result heralded a new era for the Liberal Party.

“They’ll put a fresh face on it. It’s a next generation government and they’ll do well,” he said.

“I think a line has been drawn under a decade. This is a moment of unity of the party, genuinely.”

While Mr Hunt had backed Mr Dutton, and hoped to serve as his deputy, he praised the new leadership team.

“Two of my closest friends have been elected. One was my best man (Frydenberg), the other has been one of my closest guides, friends, confidants. So they’ll do an extraordinary job,” Mr Hunt said.

Primrose Riordan 1.39pm: ‘Those days gone’

Christopher Pyne said “those days are gone” when asked about Peter Dutton’s tilt at the leadership.

“It’s time to heal the wounds of the last few weeks and I’m sure that’s what will happen,” he said.

Steve Ciobo said the party needed to heal.

“It’s important the party heals, it’s important that we carry on” Mr Ciobo said

Benjamin Packham 1.36pm: ‘Off to see Nats’

In his first act since being elected Liberal Leader, Scott Morrison has gone to talk to Nationals Leader Michael McCormack. As he walked into the ministerial wing, Scott Morrison said: “Off to see the Nationals.”

Primrose Riordan 1.35pm: ‘Unifying result’

Sarah Henderson said the result was “unifying”. “I think it’s been a very unifying result under very very difficult circumstances,” she told The Australian.

Tim Wilson said the Liberals would win the next election.

“Resolutely under Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg we are going to win,” Mr Wilson said.

Greg Brown 1.30pm: Alexander won’t congratulate ScoMo

Liberal MP John Alexander would not say who he backed or even congratulate Scott Morrison.

“I don’t want to talk to you because you just want to play mischief,” he told The Australian.

Rosie Lewis 1.30pm: ‘Now focus on Aussies’

Social Services Minister Dan Tehan said there was one clear message out of today’s meeting: “Start focusing on the Australian people.”

“We are all united now, to go out there and focus on the Australian people like no government has ever focused on the Australian people before,” Mr Tehan said.

“As a matter of fact, I say to the Australian people: be careful, because the focus will be so laser-like, you won’t know what’s hit you.

“That was the clear message out of the partyroom today.”

Sussan Ley said she was happy the Liberal Party had “cleared up our leadership issues”. “I’m going back to my farmers and my family. I never reveal how I vote,” she said as she left Parliament House.

Rachel Baxendale 1.26pm: Dutton pledges loyalty

Peter Dutton has congratulated Scott Morrison, Malcolm Turnbull and Julie Bishop.

“My pledge is to provide loyalty to Scott Morrison, make sure we win the election and we defeat Bill Shorten,” Mr Dutton said.

Rosie Lewis 1.25pm: Time to move on

Victorian Liberal MP Tim Wilson said he hoped the result would allow some people to move on from the past. A number of moderate MPs say the result is not surprising.

South Australian Liberal Nicolle Flint said Scott Morrison would do “a wonderful job”.

“I believe he can unite the party,” Ms Flint told The Australian.

Joe Kelly 1.21pm: ‘A party to save’

Tony Abbott said it was now important to “save the government”, arguing the Liberal party members were the “custodians of great political traditions”.

“The Liberal tradition of smaller government, greater freedom lower taxes. The conservative tradition of support for families, small business and values and institutions which have stood the test of time,” he said.

“But above all else, we are patriots. We want to make our country as strong and as good as it possibly can be based on the wonderful achievements that we already have to our name”.

David Rogers 1.11pm: Markets recover

Bank shares have been among the biggest beneficiaries of Scott Morrison taking the Prime Ministership from Malcolm Turnbull today.

Westpac was the standout, jumping $27.57 to $27.96, though it’s still down 1.5pc intraday after reporting weaker margins.

Perhaps the market seems more chance of Morrison fending off Labor, and its push to wind back negative gearing and franking credits.

Or the bank shares — which were some of the most affected by the political uncertainty this week — were just the most liquid way for traders to play the inevitable “relief rally”.

Rosie Lewis 1.01pm: Josh Frydenberg wins deputy spot

Chief Whip Nola Marino confirms Scott Morrison was elected leader 45 votes to 40.

The deputy was won in an “overwhelming sense” by Josh Frydenberg with an “absolute majority”.

Dennis Shanahan 12.55pm: Bitterness will continue

Scott Morrison’s narrow victory is a win for “compromise” and Malcolm Turnbull’s desperate attempts to block Peter Dutton.

But the margin is so close the bitterness will continue.

Without a formal declaration that he would stand Morrison has emerged from the three-way challenge victorious over Dutton and Julie Bishop.

In other circumstances Morrison could have expected to worked steadily towards the leadership and build wide support.

Read the article in full here.

Scott Morrison’s credentials will be tested. Picture Kym Smith
Scott Morrison’s credentials will be tested. Picture Kym Smith

Rachel Baxendale 12.50pm: Morrison wins

Scott Morrison has won the contest 45 votes to 40 and will become the 30th Prime Minister of Australia.

Geoff Chambers 12.47pm: Bishop out

Julie Bishop has been knocked out. It’s now a showdown between Morrison and Dutton.

Geoff Chambers 12.43pm: Bishop, PM resign

Malcolm Turnbull and Julie Bishop have stepped down from their positions.

Rachel Baxendale 12.34pm: Spill carried

The motion to spill the leadership has been carried, 45-40, Sky News has reported.

This means 40 people in the 85-member partyroom have opposed changing the leadership. Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership is now over.

Primrose Riordan 12.24pm: ‘The Sharks will win’

Scott Morrison on his way to the partyroom quipped to a crowd of

tradies working in Parliament : “My only tip is that the Sharks will

beat Newcastle”.

Christopher Pyne said it was a “sad day” for Australia on his way into

the partyroom meeting.

Rachel Baxendale 12.21pm: ‘It will be close’

Victorian Liberal Party President Michael Kroger says he doesn’t know who’ll win.

“If anyone tells you they know, they don’t know. It’s going to be extremely close,” Mr Kroger tells Sky News.

He says the third-placed contender’s votes may determine the outcome, as they did when Tony Abbott overtook Malcolm Turnbull with Joe Hockey’s votes to win the leadership in 2009.

Rosie Lewis 12.20pm: Turnbull flanked by Sinodinos

Ms Bishop is all smiles.

Malcolm Turnbull is flanked by Craig Laundy and Arthur Sinodinos as he walks into the partyroom. Josh Frydenberg walks in with Dan Tehan and Melissa Price. They’re overtaken by Christian Porter.

Rachel Baxendale 12.17pm: Dutton, Cormann walk in step

MPs are making their way to the meeting. Peter Dutton and Mathias Cormann are walking together, Scott Morrison was walking solo.

Julie Bishop is also walking in to the partyroom by herself. Steve Ciobo and Michael Keenan are making their way there together.

Rachel Baxendale 12.14pm: Anning backs Dutton

Katter’s Australian Party senator Fraser Anning -- who was widely condemned last week after he referred to the “final solution” while calling for a ban on non-European migration -- has declared his support for Mr Dutton.

“Under Mr Turnbull, the Coalition government has drifted disastrously to the left,” Senator Anning said.

“Hard work and thrift have been repeatedly penalised by legislation and every trendy left-wing cause such as same-sex marriage and climate change has been given priority over jobs, prosperity and social cohesion.”

“As a nation we need to return to a strong conservative Liberal government which will re-focus its efforts on core Liberal values.

“I believe that Peter Dutton is the leader who as prime minister will do this,” Senator Anning said.

Senator Anning said Katter’s Australian Party would guarantee supply should Mr Dutton become leader, but could not make the same guarantee for other candidates.

Rachel Baxendale 12.11pm: Partyroom meeting set for 12.20pm

Chief Government Whip Nola Marino has emailed all Liberal Party MPs to notify them of a 12:20 partyroom meeting.

MPs are beginning to file in now.

Greg Brown 12.10pm: Laming keeps cards close

Liberal National MP Andrew Laming is keeping his cards close to his chest on the candidate he will back in the upcoming spill.

“I’m voting Liberal,” he said.

Rachel Baxendale 12.04pm: ‘Bloody awful’

Maverick LNP MP George Christensen has written a letter to constituents apologizing for the “bloody awful nonsense” in Canberra.

Greg Brown 12.02pm: ‘No farce’

Victorian Liberal Party President Michael Kroger has left the ministerial wing at Parliament House, denying the situation was a farce.

“It has happened before and it will happen again,” he said.

Rosie Lewis 11.58am: MPs called to verify names

MPs are being called individually to confirm their signature on the petition. How long it will take to make 43 phone calls is anyone’s guess. Malcolm Turnbull said it “should not take long”. The partyroom meeting was due to be held at midday.

Will Glasgow 11.56am: Night of not-so-young Turks

Peter Dutton was dining elsewhere, but Canberra power restaurant Ottoman Cuisine was crawling with his lieutenants last night.

Were they keeping an eye on Liberal President Nick Greiner’s federal executive, who were dining at the same storeyed Turkish restaurant?

It sure looked that way.

Read the article in full here.

David Rogers 11.54am: Dollar falls

The Australian dollar and shares have pared much of their intraday gains as the Liberal Party leadership vote in Canberra gets underway.

AUD/USD has fallen back to 0.7244 from an intraday high of 0.7257. The S&P/ASX 200 is up 0.2pc at 6255 after an early rise to 6272.6.

Greg Brown 11.49am: McCormack blames media

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack walks into his office saying the media had turned the leadership situation into a joke.

Andrew Clennell 11.45am: Envoy set for Wentworth

Former Australian ambassador to Israel Dave Sharma is being touted as the frontrunner to replace Malcolm Turnbull as Liberal candidate for the seat of Wentworth.

Read the article in full here.

Rachel Baxendale 11.43am: PM ‘to quit immediately’

Malcolm Turnbull’s office has reaffirmed that he will quit today if ousted.

“That’s what he said yesterday,” a spokesman said.

“I’ve made it very clear that I believe that former Prime Ministers are best out of the parliament,” Mr Turnbull said yesterday in a veiled dig at his predecessor Tony Abbott.

“I don’t think there’s much evidence to suggest that that conclusion is not correct.”

More than a year ago Malcolm Turnbull told The Sunday Telegraph he would quit federal parliament when he stopped being prime minister.

“When I cease to be Prime Minister, I will cease to be a Member of Parliament. I am not giving anyone else advice but I just think that’s what I would do,” he said.

Mr Turnbull’s departure would prompt a by-election in his affluent Sydney seat of Wentworth.

Primrose Riordan 11.37am: Trade hurt

Foreign and trade policy achievements have been a casualty of the leadership tensions. The Indonesian trade deal was set to be signed by Mr Turnbull and former Trade Minister Steve Ciobo next week in Jakarta, The Australian understands.

Negotiations over the deal have been very rough and the deal was delayed but government sources said they were confident of getting it done by next week when the PM visited Indonesia.

Rachel Baxendale 11.35am: Abbott hosting ‘normalcy’

Meanwhile, Tony Abbott has just tweeted that he’s hosting “a bit of normalcy in a chaotic parliament” with Year 6 students from St Luke’s Grammar School in Dee Why.

Greg Brown 11.33am: PM set to call meeting

Nola Marino has left the ministerial wing of Parliament House.

She did not take any questions and refused to say if Malcolm Turnbull has the petition. Mr Turnbull has tweeted that once the signatures are verified by the Whips, the meeting will be called.

Primrose Riordan 11.29am: Wyatt, Smith with Bishop

Ken Wyatt and Speaker Tony Smith were in Julie Bishop’s office this morning, before the foreign minister entered the Prime Minister’s office.

Greg Brown 11.28am: Dutton silent after PM meet

Peter Dutton has left Malcolm Turnbull’s office. He was there for about two minutes. He would not answer questions and walked back into his office.

Greg Brown 11.24am: Dutton enters PM’s office

Peter Dutton has walked into Malcolm Tirnbull’s Office.

Sources close to Malcolm Turnbull say he will not call a ballot unless he sees the petition with 43 signatures on it.

Peter Dutton is refusing to do so but is claiming the numbers.

Ms Marino and Christopher Pyne have been walking between their offices.

Julie Bishop has also walked into Mr Turnbull’s office.

Rachel Baxendale 11.21am: Dutton a ‘cold character’

Anthony Albanese has given Labor’s perspective on the Liberals’ turmoil condemning Peter Dutton as a “cold character” with “no evidence” of a heart and soul.

Bill Shorten’s former leadership rival said he had been loyal to the Opposition Leader since losing to him in 2013, and had regarded Julia Gillard’s ousting of Kevin Rudd as a mistake since the night it happened in June 2010.

“I think history has proven my judgement on that night to be right, notwithstanding the fact that I think both Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard were outstanding prime ministers, there’s no doubt that we were damaged by those events,” Mr Albanese said.

“What we’ve got under this mob is a government that on Monday said ‘we can’t have an energy policy because we can’t get agreement to it’.

“This government can’t function, and we see that each and every day.”

He said Peter Dutton was a “cold character”.

“I mean it’s one thing to have a hard head, and you need that to lead the nation, but you also need a heart and a soul,” Mr Albanese said.

“There’s no evidence that Peter Dutton has either. He’s a cold character who has no empathy for people who aren’t the same as him, and that’s a real problem for the nation, and it’s extraordinary that they are considering putting him up as the prime minister, and we saw that, we know what a Peter Dutton prime ministership will be like, because we saw that when he performed as health minister.

“This is a bloke who can’t be trusted to support Medicare, a bloke who’s saying that the Liberal Party should just go back to the past, a bloke who wants Australia to be a nation that isn’t one of the 21st Century.”

Greg Brown 11.19am: Dutton ‘refuses to show petition’

Sources close to three Prime Minister has confirmed Peter a Dutton is refusing to hand over the petition with 43 signatures on it.

Perry Williams 11.17am: Crisis ‘hurting business’

The British boss of manufacturing giant Brambles says Australia’s leadership crisis is hurting business confidence and says the tone of the nation’s politics is tracking a broader shift to the right in the US and Europe.

“I think what’s going on in this country is no different to what’s been going on in the UK, France, Germany and the US and many other countries,” Brambles chief executive Graham Chipchase told the Australian. “What we’re seeing here is no different to what we see in lots of other countries around the world.”

With the Liberals due to hold a party room meeting at 12noon today, the Oxford University-educated Brambles chief said it was far from clear how the political situation would play out.

“Lets wait and see what it comes to today because we still don’t have a clear idea,” said Mr Chipchase.

“I think it makes our job that much more difficult not knowing what the rules might be for example in tax going forward.”

Right wing political parties have gained support across Europe over concerns about the migrant crisis and economic pressures.

Brambles echoed the dismay among Australian business leaders about the latest bout of instability which has upended the government’s national energy guarantee policy and planned corporate tax cuts.

“From a business perspective, what we always want is stability and if you haven’t got that at least some sort of plan so you know when you’re going to get stability,” said Mr Chipchase. “This lack of stability is clearly not a good thing for business.”

Brambles shares jumped by 7.5 per cent to $10.70 on the ASX after its delivered annual underlying profit of $US997 million, beating consensus, and announced a plan to spin off its IFCO fresh produce business which Citi values at $2.5 billion.

Primrose Riordan 11.15am: Shredded documents out of PM office

Staff are moving shredded documents out of the Prime Ministers Office on a trolley.

11.00am: Turnbull ‘shattered’

Liberal MP Craig Laundy has told KIIS FM he spent last night drinking with Malcolm Turnbull and said the PM was “shattered.

Mr Laundy told Kyle & Jackie O Mr Turnbull spent the evneing “drinking glasses of red wine and champagne.”

Asked what Mr Turnbull thought about Julie Bishop possibly becoming Prime Minister, he said: “Malcolm’s a strong supporter of Julie’s.”

Greg Brown 11.00am: Marino returns to PM office

Chief Whip Nola Marino has left Malcolm’s Turnbull’s office and walked intto another minister’s office before returning to the PM’s office.

Rachel Baxendale 10.56am: Dutton - I’m cleared

Peter Dutton says the advice of Solicitor-General Stephen Donaghue “puts to rest the false, unsubstantiated and malicious claims” regarding his eligibility to sit in parliament.

“Today I received advice from the Solicitor-General that in his view I am capable of sitting as a Member of the House of Representatives,” the leadership contender said in a statement.

“This confirms the legal advice which I received from the former Solicitor-General David Bennett AC QC yesterday and the advice I received from Guy Reynolds SC on 4 December 2017 and 23 August 2018.

“David Bennett AC QC, who served 10 years as Commonwealth Solicitor-General, was recently successful in the High Court in Re Canavan and provided advice to Malcolm Turnbull on the eligibility of Justine Keay, Susan Lamb and Rebekha Sharkie, later confirmed by the High Court.”

Rachel Baxendale 10.50am: ‘Cloud of doubt’ on Dutton

Constitutional expert George Williams says only the High Court can resolve the “cloud of doubt” over Peter Dutton’s eligibility to sit in parliament under Section 44.

“The SG’s advice is spot on,” tweeted Professor Williams, who once stood for Labor preselection.

“It is more likely that Peter Dutton is not disqualified, but this cannot be stated with certainty.

“As the SG says, there is a risk he is in breach of section 44.

“Only the High Court can resolve this cloud of doubt.”

Rachel Baxendale 10.48am: Petition going to PM

Chief Government Whip Nola Marino has been handed the petition for the partyroom meeting and has taken it to the Prime Minister’s office. Ms Marino is now with Mr Turnbull.

Andrew Burrell 10.47am: ‘Lady Macbeth’ is voters’ pick

Julie Bishop’s enemies in the Liberal Party may call her Lady Macbeth, but she is the most popular contender among voters.

Julie Bishop arriving at Parliament House in Canberra today. Picture: Kym Smith.
Julie Bishop arriving at Parliament House in Canberra today. Picture: Kym Smith.

Brad Norington 10.42am: Morrison’s rapid rise

Aside from any innate political talents, Scott Morrison’s elevation to key ministerial roles — to the point that he is today a serious contender for the top job — is also a reflection of the tribulations of his party.

Read the article in full here.

Treasurer Scott Morrison at parliament last night. Picture: Kym Smith.
Treasurer Scott Morrison at parliament last night. Picture: Kym Smith.

Jamie Walker 10.38am: Brickie’s son has building to do

So much for the honeymoon. If Peter Dutton prevails today in the Liberal partyroom, it will be on the back of bitterness and acrimony that exceeds anything unleashed by a past prime ministerial knifing.

Read the article in full here.

Peter Dutton and Mathias Cormann having dinner last night. Picture: Jonathan Ng
Peter Dutton and Mathias Cormann having dinner last night. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Rachel Baxendale 10.32am: ‘I signed but will support PM’

Queensland backbencher Scott Buchholz, who holds the seat of Wright, south of Brisbane, said he had signed the petition for a partyroom meeting with the caveat that he was not a Dutton supporter but simply wanted the leadership issue settled.

He said he had always supported the sitting prime minister in secret ballots and would continue to do so, because the Australian people had no appetite for a revolving door of prime ministers.

“I’ve supported the letter because it has morphed into, the mercurial nature of that document, it has now moved into a document to bring on a partyroom meeting so this can be resolved,” he said.

“My motivation for doing so was because I believe that the issue needs to be dealt with today.

“I have heard from my branches, I have heard from state presidents, I have seen the unanimous position the party has around the country that this needs to be dealt with today, so I lent my signature to that name, not to topple the Prime Minister, but to bring on some type of resolution to this issue today.

“If the Prime Minister stands, he will have my support.”

Rosie Lewis 10.30am: 43 signatures secured

Liberal MP Warren Entsch says he’s just signed the petition and believes he was the 43rd signature - the final signature required for a partyroom meeting to take place at 12pm.

Mr Entsch applauded Malcolm Turnbull for saying he’d quit federal parliament if he loses the prime ministership and urged Tony Abbott to do the same.

“I hope the former leader goes too,” he said. “He’s actually had mission accomplished. He’s destroyed the Prime Minister and that’s been the sole purpose. It’s never been about policy, it’s pure revenge.

“I signed (the petition) for Dr Brendan Nelson. I want to remind people that this rot started when Brendan got done over when he was the leader back in 2007.

“Every single leader on both sides of the political fence have suffered the same fate. It’s time we broke the bloody cycle.”

Mr Entsch supported Mr Turbull in Tuesday’s leadership ballot but would not reveal how he planned to vote today.

Greg Brown 10.20am: Fifield shifts support

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield has switched his support from Peter Dutton to Scott Morrison. The Australian has confirmed the Dutton forces did not count Mitch Fifield in their column for the ballot.

Rachel Baxendale 10.15am: How to avoid leadership spills

NSW Liberal backbencher John Alexander has called for the Liberals to introduce measures to protect leaders from untimely challenges and ensure stability.

Mr Alexander said he had previously raised the issue with both Malcolm Turnbull and Tony Abbott following the 2015 leadership spill.

“It didn’t go anywhere, and we are now committing another act of self-harm greater than the last,” the former tennis champion said.

“It was often asked what did playing tennis have to do with politics. A good tennis player when they lose, make mistakes, they learn from them and try not to do it again, so I can only hope that what we’ve endured in the last week, we learn this most bitter lesson, and whoever is our prime minister after today, or if the man who is the prime minister continues, the first thing they do before they start the healing process is to put something in place where an elected prime minister serves the term and then asks for a vote of confidence before calling an election for the next term.”

Mr Alexander declined to say who he would support if a partyroom meeting went ahead today.

“I’ve never disclosed who I have voted for or who I will vote for, and I would encourage my colleagues to do the same,” he said.

“Don’t we understand, and that means you and us, about the nature of a secret ballot? Because all it does if you disclose, you create further recriminations.”

Asked whether Mr Turnbull had handled the matter badly by insisting on 43 signatures, Mr Alexander had an each way bet.

“There are some who won’t like it, and there’ll be others who think that he has fought a magnificent battle. That’s for you to decide,” he said.

He said the Liberal Party could recover.

“This is a great battle. There’s an old saying that if it doesn’t kill you it makes you stronger, and again we need to learn the lessons of this conflict, and if we learn those lessons we will be stronger,” Mr Alexander said.

He cited a strong economy, including increased female participation in the workforce and the passage of same-sex marriage as achievements of which the Turnbull government could be proud.

Greg Brown 10.05am: ‘High Court may find conflict’

Solicitor-General Stephen Donaghue QC’s legal advice in regard to Peter Dutton’s eligibility to sit in parliament says it is “unlikely” the leadership challenger was ineligible but concedes there was “some risk” the High Court would see otherwise.

“In my opinion the better view is that Mr Dutton is not incapable of sitting as a member of the House of Representatives by reasons of s 44(v) of the constitution,” Mr Donaghue wrote.

“I consider it unlikely that Mr Dutton is disqualified by reason of payments made to RHT Investments under the Inclusion Support Programme.”

But Mr Donaghue said there was a risk the High Court would declare there was a conflict of interest because of his indirect stake in childcare centres that received government subsidies.

“I consider there to be some risk, particularly in light of the substantial size of the payments that appear to have been made by the Commonwealth to RHT Investments, that the High Court might conclude that there is a conflict between Mr Dutton’s duty as a parliamentarian and his personal interests,” Mr Donaghue wrote.

“The court might consider those payments to have created the expectation of benefit to Mr Dutton, on the basis that they would contribute to the amount of surplus income available to be distributed to beneficiaries of the RHT Family Trust, and that Mr Dutton had an indirect pecuniary interest on that basis.

“However, while that risk cannot be entirely discounted, it would remain necessary for the Court to identify an agreement in which Mr Dutton held that interest.”

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Rachel Baxendale 9.45am: Shorten gets on with the job

As the Liberal Party meets to determine its next leader, Labor leader Bill Shorten and his deputy Tanya Plibersek will be visiting a hospital in Sydney.

In a move no doubt intended to give the impression that Labor is “getting on with the job” while the Liberals fight each other, Mr Shorten’s office has just confirmed that he and Ms Plibersek will be visiting a Sydney hospital this afternoon.

Rachel Baxendale 9.38am: Solicitor-General clears Dutton

Solicitor-General Stephen Donaghue has cleared Peter Dutton to be in parliament, clearing the way for him to challenge Malcolm Turnbull for the Liberal leadership. Dr Donaghue has found Mr Dutton is “not incapable of sitting as a member of the House of Representatives.”

“On the facts set out below, in my opinion, in my view is that Mr Dutton is not incapable of sitting as a member of the House of Representatives by reasons of s44(v) of the Constitution,” Dr Donaghue found.

Rosie Lewis 9.36am: Leadership change ‘a must’

Peter Dutton backer Kevin Andrews says there “must” be a change in leader today while effectively calling on Malcolm Turnbull not to quit in the interest of a stable government.

“I would hope that everybody involved in this would act honourably and do what’s in the best interest of some stable government in Australia,” he said as he arrived at Parliament House.

“It’s been quite clear for months and months and months now that Australians are wanting responses to the challenges facing them. When I go out to the electorate, when I’m in the shopping centres and on the streets, people are asking about the real things which are affecting their lives – it’s the cost of electricity, it’s the congestion of roads it’s the overcrowding of public transport, it’s the stagnation of wages for years now.

“People want responses to this and at the moment they feel like we’re not giving them adequate responses and I think it’s time for us to make the change so we can try and address these real challenges for ordinary Australians.”

Mr Andrews said a Dutton government could “start to address those matters”.

Rachel Baxendale 9.10am: Cormann cold on Dutton GST policy

On Sky, Mathias Cormann refused to back Peter Dutton’s idea of removing the GST from power bills.

The West Australian and former Finance Minister said he was not going to “go into individual policy issues” when asked if he approved of the idea, saying reform to provide a “fair share” of the GST to WA was “one of the great achievements of the Turnbull government.”

“Peter Dutton made comments as a backbencher. Obviously if he is successful today, these are the sorts of matters that will be discussed in an orderly fashion,” Senator Cormann told Sky News, when pressed on whether WA would be worse off under Mr Dutton’s proposed policy.

Senator Cormann is backing Mr Dutton for the leadership.

Sam Buckingham-Jones 9.05am: ‘Untenable if no partyroom’

Zed Seselja, who represents the ACT and has publicly backed Peter Dutton, told Canberra radio it would be “absolutely untenable” if the party’s leadership situation were not resolved today.

“I think there’ll be a meeting. It would be untenable for there not to be a meeting,” he said.

“It would be absolutely untenable not to have this resolved today. I anticipate it will be resolved one way or another.”

Senator Seselja said the Liberal Party had been haemorrhaging voters to minor parties like One Nation and he was convinced Mr Dutton was best placed to win them back.

“The PM unexpectedly called a leadership spill … People had to make a judgment for a number of reasons, we made a judgment, a very significant minority made a judgment that Peter Dutton would be a better candidate,” he said.

“Peter Dutton has been good at listening to the concerns of ordinary Australians who are concerned about their cost of living, congestion in their cities, tax burden they are facing. He will articulate that case.

“We’ve seen our primary vote eroding. Many of the people who are no longer voting for us have been a lot of our traditional supporters. You need to appeal to a broad section of the community but you can’t be successful without building on a base. If you don’t retain the support of those, they go to minor parties and the other side governs.”

Rachel Baxendale 9.00am: Cormann - PM ‘took me by surprise’

Senator Cormann also told Sky News Malcolm Turnbull had taken most of his colleagues, including him, by surprise in calling a leadership ballot on Tuesday.

“I believe that we now need to have this partyroom meeting today,” he told Sky News.

“I believe that we need to resolve the leadership of the Liberal Party.

“I’ve already indicated that I will be supporting Peter Dutton today. I believe that he is the best candidate to help us win the next election.”

He said he would have preferred the Prime Minister agreed to call a partyroom meeting without requiring 43 signatures.

“Obviously irrespective of that, leadership ballots, for good reasons, are secret ballots, and obviously in secret ballots people can express their views freely.

“This is now essentially a requirement that a majority of colleagues in the partyroom engage in a show and tell in a public show of hands. I would have preferred if it had been able to be done without that, but we are where we are.”

Recently resigned Ministers Mitch Fifield, Former Leader of the Senate Mathias Cormann, Michaelia Cash and Concetta Fierravanti-Wells on the backbench of the Senate yesterday. Picture: Sean Davey.
Recently resigned Ministers Mitch Fifield, Former Leader of the Senate Mathias Cormann, Michaelia Cash and Concetta Fierravanti-Wells on the backbench of the Senate yesterday. Picture: Sean Davey.

Greg Brown 8.55am: Three way contest unpredictable

Former Liberal leader John Hewson says a three way contest makes today’s result unpredictable.

Mr Hewson said Peter Dutton should be considered favourite in the likely noon spill but he would not be surprised if Scott Morrison or Julie Bishop won.

“You would have to think it is Peter Dutton, but it is very difficult to judge from a three way contest,” Mr Hewson told Sky News.

He noted the three way contest in the leadership of 2009 was part of the reason Tony Abbott became leader, after supporters of Joe Hockey shifted their votes to the eventual winner when Hockey was knocked out in the first round of voting.

“The votes from Hockey shifted and Turnbull got beaten,” Mr Hewson said.

8.50am: Bishop hits the phones

Sky News is reporting that Julie Bishop is personally ringing every single partyroom member to make her pitch, rather than leaving it to her offsiders.

Rachel Baxendale 8.45am: Cormann: Dutton supporters changed my mind

Mathias Cormann, who resigned as government leader in the Senate yesterday after voting for Malcolm Turnbull on Tuesday, said the crystallisation of support for Peter Dutton in the partyroom had changed his mind.

“A number of colleagues, including four cabinet colleagues who had supported Malcolm in the leadership ballot on Tuesday came to see me to explain that they had changed their position,” Senator Cormann told Sky News.

He said the four had been in addition to Michaelia Cash and Mitch Fifield who joined him in resigning yesterday morning.

“I had a number of other backbench colleagues who reached out to me on similar terms, and so I felt duty-bound to advise the Prime Minister of this, which I did face-to-face, and ask him to help facilitate an orderly transition in the circumstances,” Senator Cormann said.

“Effectively once it became clear that the Prime Minister no longer enjoyed the support of the partyroom, I took the view that it was our responsibility to the country, to the government, to the Liberal Party to help facilitate an orderly transition.

“It was very difficult. I believe that Malcolm Turnbull has been a very good Prime Minister.

“He has a significant record of achievement. I have served him loyally ever since he was elected leader of the Liberal Party in September 2015, but in the end, even though my expectation was that I would continue to serve under his leadership for years to come, I could not ignore the reality that was in front of us.”

Greg Brown 8.35am: ‘Turnbull should stay in parliament’

Assistant Home Affairs Minister Alex Hawke says he hopes Malcolm Turnbull stays in parliament if he loses the prime ministership today.

Mr Hawke said he has not signed a petition to bring on a spill, despite wanting a leadership change today.

“I don’t think people have been included to sign a petition, it is a big thing to do, to sign a petition, but there are good people on that petition and I think today people want that resolved,” Mr Hawke said outside Parliament House this morning.

“I do think people will sign the petition, and I think they will sign the petition not because they want to but because they want to see the issue resolved today.”

Mr Hawke would not say who he will back in the event of a spill, despite the reports he is a Scott Morrison backer.

“I expect there will be a ballot today and we will have that decision, I have a strong view about who I think should be the leader of the party, I’m not going to telegraph that through the media, I speak to my colleagues, people have been discussing it over the last 24 hours,” Mr Hawke said.

8.30am: PM heads for Parliament House

Malcolm Turnbull has left the Lodge and is heading toward Parliament House.

8.23am: Lib presidents: resolve issue today

Liberal party president Nick Greiner has told Malcolm Turnbull that the state party presidents want the issue resolved today. Victorian Liberal president Michael Kroger told Sky news it should be resolved regardless of the numbers on the petition.

8.20am: Nine ministers gave early support to Dutton

Mathias Cormann has confirmed to Sky News that there were 9 Cabinet ministers who came out in support of Peter Dutton before Scott Morrison and Julie Bishop put their hands up for the leadership.

Rosie Lewis 8.18am: Henderson ‘hasn’t signed petition’

Victorian Liberal MP Sarah Henderson says she has not signed a petition to spill they leadership.

Sarah Henderson speaks to reporters in Canberra.
Sarah Henderson speaks to reporters in Canberra.

Simon Benson 8.15am: Cormann meeting turned tide

The cardinal moment came at 11.45am on Wednesday, when Senate leader Mathias Cormann walked through the corridors of the ministerial wing to the ground-floor office of Malcolm Turnbull.

Read the story in full here.

Peter Dutton and Mathias Cormann having dinner at Portia's Place restaurant in Kingston last night. Picture: Jonathan Ng
Peter Dutton and Mathias Cormann having dinner at Portia's Place restaurant in Kingston last night. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Rachel Baxendale 8.03am: ’Bullying Turnbull’

Dutton ally Eric Abetz has accused Malcolm Turnbull of “bullying and intimidation” for insisting upon 43 signatures before he will call a partyroom meeting to determine the Liberal leadership.

“Let’s be very clear: this suggestion that there needs to be 43 signatures is a complete and utter fabrication and goes against every precedent of the Liberal Party partyroom,” Senator Abetz told ABC radio.

“In the past only two signatures have been required, and when confronted with two signatures Mr Abbott called a partyroom meeting.

“The idea that you need a majority of people to actually call for a spill basically means that the secret ballot is no longer being supported by the Prime Minister, and this is seen by many of my colleagues as not being worthy of the Liberal Party virtues and values.”

Jon Kudelka’s cartoon today.
Jon Kudelka’s cartoon today.

Rachel Baxendale 7.56am: Sinodinos returns to Canberra

NSW Senator Arthur Sinodinos is returning to Canberra despite being on leave from parliament receiving cancer treatment, Sky News is reporting.

Mr Sinodinos, who served as John Howard’s chief of staff, is a moderate, meaning his vote will likely go to either Julie Bishop or Scott Morrison in a contest against conservative candidate Peter Dutton.

Rosie Lewis 7.46am: Morton ‘supports Morrison’

Arriving at Parliament House this morning, West Australian Liberal MP Ben Morton said he had signed the petition and supported Scott Morrison for leader. Mr Morton only signed the petition this morning.

Rachel Baxendale 7.44am: ‘Don’t tell PM what to do’

On his way into parliament, staunch Turnbull ally Christopher Pyne said people shouldn’t be telling Malcolm Turnbull what to do, when asked whether the Prime Minister should remain in parliament if he is rolled today.

Mr Turnbull yesterday said he would resign if he lost the top job.

“He’s run an excellent government for three years: growing economy, hundreds of thousands, record jobs, balancing the budget, and yet that hasn’t been good enough for his colleagues, or for some colleagues in the parliamentary party, so I’m not about to tell Malcolm Turnbull to do anything other than what he wants to do,” Mr Pyne said.

Asked whether Mr Turnbull should “consider the greater good” and remain in parliament, rather than possibly triggering a by-election, Mr Pyne said: “Well I think some people in the caucus should have considered the greater good of the people of Australia and the government rather than their own self-interest and ambition.”

“The leadership will be resolved today, I assume, if 43 signatures are presented to the Chief Whip and to the Prime Minister,” Mr Pyne said.

Asked what would happen if the 43 signatures were not received, Mr Pyne said: “Well the process is that 43 people need to put their names to a piece of paper to say that they want to have a meeting, and that hasn’t happened yet, as far as I’m aware.”

Former Cabinet ministers Michaelia Cash, Concetta Fierravanti-Wells Mitch Fifield and Mathias Cormann sit on the backbench during Senate Question Time. Picture: AAP.
Former Cabinet ministers Michaelia Cash, Concetta Fierravanti-Wells Mitch Fifield and Mathias Cormann sit on the backbench during Senate Question Time. Picture: AAP.

Sam Buckingham-Jones 7.40am: ‘Dutton has no heart’

Also speaking on Nine’s Today Show, Labor MP Anthony Albanese said Peter Dutton had never shown any “heart and soul”.

“This has been a tragic week for Australian politics. What we are seeing is a ruthless removal of an elected prime minister who has been preferred prime minister in every single poll since he took over the leadership of the Liberal Party,” Mr Albanese said.

“If (Mr Dutton) is successful, this is a bloke who is preferred leader of the Liberal Party and struggles to get to double figures in any poll. In no poll has he been more than 10%. To lead this country, you need a strong head. But you also need a heart and a soul. And no-one up to this point has ever seen a heart or a soul from Peter Dutton. Peter Dutton has a tin air for the Australian public.

“He is someone who doesn’t have the breadth of experience. He was a disastrous Health Minister. He is the guy who wanted to bring in a GP tax. He’s the guy who ripped $50 billion out of the health system. He’s the guy who doesn’t support Medicare and was voted by doctors, by doctors, as the worst Health Minister in Australian history.”

Sam Buckingham-Jones 7.35am: Pyne - PM philosophical

Chris Pyne has defended Malcolm Turnbull’s decision to demand a signed letter from colleagues before calling an unscheduled party meeting to determine the leadership of the government.

The Minister for Defence Industries said Mr Turnbull was “disappointed and philosophical” and amazed the party would believe it is a good idea to replace him.

“He is doing exactly what the process of the party should be. There was a party meeting on Tuesday where he was re-elected 48-35. The people who were defeated are determined to continue to wreck the government. And that requires, if they wanted another party meeting, an unscheduled meeting, 43 signatures on a letter,” Mr Pyne told Nine’s Today Show.

“Now, I’m sorry that those people don’t want to put their name to a public document. That’s their choice. They obviously don’t want people to know what they’ve done to the government... But the reality is that’s the process.”

Mr Pyne said none of those in the rebellion against Mr Turnbull had given a good reason to replace a sitting Prime Minister.

“Malcolm Turnbull has been giving good government for three years. The economy is growing,” he said.

“And no-one has yet given a reason, no-one has publicly stood up and given a reason as to why the prime minister and the government needs to change.”

Rachel Baxendale 7.25am: Dutton legal advice ‘outdated’

Constitutional expert Anne Twomey has dismissed Peter Dutton’s latest legal advice, saying it is based on outdated law and not the current situation.

Solicitor-General Stephen Donaghue is due to deliver advice on whether or not Mr Dutton’s ownership through a family trust of two childcare centres, which receive money from the commonwealth to pass on to parents subsidies, could make him ineligible to sit in parliament.

Overnight Mr Dutton produced legal advice from former Solicitor-General David Bennett QC which he claims “puts to rest the spurious & unsubstantiated allegations raised against (my) eligibility.”

However, Professor Twomey said Mr Bennett’s opinion was based on outdated law, because the way in which childcare subsidies are handled changed on July 1.

“The earlier opinions, one in April and one in December last year dealt with the previous law, and then the most recent opinion that Mr Dutton has released this morning that comes from the former Solicitor-General David Bennett makes an assessment of the other two opinions on the basis of the previous law,” Professor Twomey told ABC radio.

“It would be extremely helpful if someone would actually give an opinion on the basis of the current law, and we’re hoping that Stephen Donaghue, the Solicitor-General, might do that today.”

7.15am: Dutton’s signatures

Malcolm Turnbull yesterday refused to call a partyroom meeting until Peter Dutton shows him he has the 43 signatures required. It is thought Mr Dutton now has the 43.

Jared Owens 6.30am: Dutton’s office vandalised

Peter Dutton’s Brisbane office has been attacked overnight by vandals who allegedly bombarded its windows with brick pavers and fled.

Police are this morning investigating the attack at Gympie Road, Strathpine, which is believed to have occurred at 1.45am.

The attack will remind Liberal MPs of the vitriolic loathing of Mr Dutton, the former tough-talking Minister for Home Affairs, in some sections of the community ahead of a likely leadership contest today.

In a statement, police said: “It is believed no one entered the address during the incident.

“Police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious behaviour in the area at the time of the incident to please contact them.”

Mr Dutton’s office has previously come under attack by activists who have smashed windows or climbed onto its roof to protest the former minister’s hard-line approach on refugees.

Mr Dutton holds his northern Brisbane electorate of Dickson on a notional margin of 2 per cent, making it one of the Coalition’s most vulnerable seats.

He has held the seat defeating Labor’s Cheryl Kernot in 2001.

Malcolm Turnbull addresses the media on Thursday. Picture: Kym Smith.
Malcolm Turnbull addresses the media on Thursday. Picture: Kym Smith.

Making news today

Malcolm Turnbull has threatened to strip the government of its ­majority in the parliament and force an early election as a three-horse leadership contest looms today for Peter Dutton, Scott Morrison and Julie Bishop.

Peter Dutton supporters are furious with Malcolm Turnbull for using a section 44 issue to “distract” from his leadership rival’s bid for the top job, as Attorney-General Christian Porter last night promised the review into Mr ­Dutton’s eligibility to sit in parliament would not be politicised.

For all his humble origin story, former Queensland cop Peter Dutton is far richer than his rivals for the top job, Scott Morrison and Julie Bishop.

The cardinal moment came at 11.45am on Wednesday, when Senate leader Mathias Cormann walked through the corridors of the ministerial wing to the ground-floor office of Malcolm Turnbull.

Peter Dutton, Scott Morrison and Julie Bishop are rivals for the leadership in a perpetuation of Liberal ideological and personal hatreds onto yet another political cycle, writes Paul Kelly.

Dennis Shanahan writes: Malcolm Turnbull’s plan to survive as Prime Minister or pass his job to Scott Morrison is a plan to bring down the Coalition government, blow up the Liberal Party, hobble a likely successor (Peter Dutton), trash partyroom conventions, and force an early election for his own ends

More Coverage

After blood, an armistice is vital
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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/politicsnow-liberal-partyroom-meeting-expected-for-high-noon/news-story/d523adf38e1f874383ac4b5e7590b4ae