Malcolm Turnbull to stand down if spill motion goes ahead
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says he won’t stand again if an expected partyroom meeting on Friday passes a spill motion on his leadership.
But he says first Liberal MPs need to see the advice from the solicitor-general on the eligibility of Peter Dutton to sit in the parliament, in the wake of reports he could be in breach of the constitution.
Mr Turnbull also wants to see the letter purportedly signed by 43 Liberal MPs calling for the meeting. He said, if as expected, the votes are there, he will convene a new party room meeting, as requested by his challenger, Peter Dutton.
Malcolm Turnbull says he'll resign from parliament immediately if spill motion is carried @7NewsSydney #auspol #libspill
— Olivia Leeming (@olivialeeming) August 23, 2018
He’s slated that meeting for midday on Friday.
“The House has been adjourned at the request of Mr Dutton and so I now await a letter with the signatures of a majority of the party room,” he told reporters in Canberra on Thursday, adding he was appalled by what has unfolded in Parliament in recent days.
“I will invite a spill motion to be moved. If the motion is carried, I will treat that as a vote of no confidence and I will not stand as a candidate in the ballot,” Mr Turnbull said.
“Australians will be rightly appalled by what they’re witnessing in their nation’s parliament today and in the course of this week.”
The leadership now looms as a battle between Mr Dutton and Treasurer Scott Morrison, who could run if Mr Turnbull steps aside.
Cabinet colleagues deliver fatal blow
The turning point in the saga came on Thursday when Mathias Cormann, Michaelia Cash and Mitch Fifield resigned from cabinet and told the prime minister he no longer had majority support in the Liberal party room.
Steve Ciobo, Greg Hunt, Michael Keenan, Angus Taylor and Alan Tudge also resigned from their ministry positions.
Mr Dutton has sought a fresh party room ballot, following his unsuccessful bid on Tuesday, but the prime minister has yet to allow the meeting to go ahead.
“I can’t ignore reality,” Senator Cormann said at Parliament House on Thursday, after meeting with Mr Turnbull.
“When I have five cabinet colleagues telling me they supported Peter Dutton on Tuesday … that is not something I can ignore.”
He said he had taken the action “with great sadness and a heavy heart”.
