Malcolm Turnbull's leadership in tatters as key ministers abandon the PM
Three of Malcolm Turnbull’s senior ministers have resigned from the cabinet, telling the wounded prime minister he no longer has their support.
Mathias Cormann, Michaelia Cash and Mitch Fifield fronted the media on Thursday morning outside Parliament House where they echoed Peter Dutton’s calls another party room meeting.
“It’s with great sadness and a heavy heart that we went to see the prime minister yesterday afternoon to advise him that in our judgment he no longer enjoyed the support of the majority of members in the Liberal Party party room,” Senator Cormann told reporters in Canberra.
“And that it was in the best interests of the Liberal Party to help manage an orderly transition to a new leader.”
BREAKING: Mathias Cormann, Michaela Cash and Mitch Fifield have resigned from Cabinet @7NewsSydney pic.twitter.com/AoSgqGScZc
— Peter Fegan (@PeterFegan7) August 22, 2018
Senator Cormann said the prime minister had declined his resignation from the ministry on Wednesday.
“I have also met again with the Prime Minister this morning and again advised him that I do not believe he has the confidence of the party room,” Ms Cash said.
The former ministers called for the prime minister to call a party room meeting.
“In my view it would be in the interests of the Liberal Party and in the interests of the country for a partyroom meeting to be called swiftly for the issue of the leadership of the Liberal Party to be resolved,” Senator Cormann added.
Dutton says he has the numbers
Earlier this morning, Peter Dutton announced he would again challenge for the liberal leadership – before Mr Turnbull refused his offer for a second party room meeting.
The ex-Home Affairs Minister lost a challenge 48 votes to 35 on Tuesday but now wants to have another go at toppling his leader.
“Earlier this morning, I called the prime minister to advise him that it was my judgment that the majority of the party room no longer supported his leadership,” Mr Dutton told reporters at Parliament House on Thursday morning.
“As such, I asked him to convene a meeting of the Liberal Party at which I would challenge for the leadership.”
Mr Dutton later told reporters he was confident he had the numbers, but Mr Turnbull has so far declined the request to hold the meeting.
More to come.
