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Letter calling for party room meeting being circulated, reports say – politics live Peter Dutton backers launch push for new party room meeting – politics live
(35 minutes later)
This interview was a little earlier this evening, but it gives you a sense of how quickly things are moving. Bishop was completely unaware of the move to force another party room meeting when she appeared on The Project, about 6.30pm.
"I am not aware of any such moves for a party room meeting this evening." @JulieBishopMP #auspol #TheProjectTV pic.twitter.com/r1JBxfZz1d
This is unexpected. Senator Jim Molan, who voted for Dutton on Tuesday, says he’ll support Turnbull. But he still thinks Dutton would be a better prime minister. Molan repeats the concern that the Liberals have moved “too far to the left”.
Molan has clarified his position with Buzzfeed. He says only that he’ll support Turnbull until the next leadership challenge. At that point, he’ll vote for Dutton. Clear as mud.
OK. So, Jim Molan's office called me to clarify his statement - he will support the prime minister... until there is another challenge when he will vote for Dutton again. https://t.co/gCCNIHAzQS
Reporter Paul Karp has just watched the chief government whip, Nola Marino, walk into Turnbull’s office.
There were reports that frontbencher Dan Tehan had shifted his allegiance to Dutton. There’s a lot of hot air and rumours floating around. This is another example.
Tehan has not switched sides, we have confirmed.
Dan Tehan has not shifted: "I will not vote against a sitting PM" #auspol @knausc
Speaking of hot air, the hyperbole in this tweet is truly something to behold.
So, the courageous Malcolm may not face reality. The political undertaker has arrived but Malcolm has locked himself up and won’t answer the door.No worries, the undertaker will still be there in the morning.#Auspol
Energy policy strikes again.
To think this all has happened because of an energy policy that would do nothing to reduce emissions and which was mostly favoured by voters.
We’ve now spoken with one Coalition MP who has directly sighted the petition calling for a party room meeting. That gives us some reassurance that this is not a stunt to flush Turnbull out.
It’s still unclear how many people have signed.
HURRAH. I have managed to locate an MP who has sighted the petition with his own eyes, and signed it. So the document does exist. Reassuring, given that Rudd precedent #auspol @knausc
OK, as you’d expect, the reports are now coming thick and fast. There was a News Corp report that the finance minister, Mathias Cormann, had resigned. Cormann is key to this entire leadership tussle.
But our political editor, Katharine Murphy, has confirmed that is not true. He has not, in fact, resigned.
Contrary to some reports, the finance minister has not resigned @knausc #auspol
Paul Karp reports that another Turnbull backer, Craig Laundy, has just walked into the prime minister’s office.
MPs are confirming to us a document is circulating, although we’re yet to speak to someone who has actually laid eyes on it.
MPs are being asked to sign a document. I've not spoken to anyone yet who has sighted the document with their own eyes, but people believe a document is circulating #auspol @knausc
Just on the procedure from here. If the letter gets the required 43 signatures, it will still need Turnbull to agree to hold the meeting. Of course, he’d look weak if he didn’t. But there’s no guarantee that any such meeting would happen tonight, even if the signatures materialise. It could happen tomorrow.
I'm told that procedurally the PM would have to agree to holding a meeting tonight. Not automatic #auspol @knausc
The chatter among MPs earlier today was some or all of the ministers who tried resign yesterday would resign again in order to force the issue to a conclusion either tonight or early tomorrow #auspol @knauscThe chatter among MPs earlier today was some or all of the ministers who tried resign yesterday would resign again in order to force the issue to a conclusion either tonight or early tomorrow #auspol @knausc
Past experience can teach us a lesson here. Kevin Rudd used a similar tactic before taking the leadership back off Gillard.Past experience can teach us a lesson here. Kevin Rudd used a similar tactic before taking the leadership back off Gillard.
News that a petition was circulating emerged at a crucial juncture. It was claimed Rudd had the numbers to call a spill. But no one ever saw the petition document. It never materialised.News that a petition was circulating emerged at a crucial juncture. It was claimed Rudd had the numbers to call a spill. But no one ever saw the petition document. It never materialised.
The move was enough, however, to force the issue and bring on the spill. The rest is history.The move was enough, however, to force the issue and bring on the spill. The rest is history.
There are multiple reports that a letter is being circulated for a party room meeting. Remember, it needs 43 signatures to force the Coalition into the meeting.There are multiple reports that a letter is being circulated for a party room meeting. Remember, it needs 43 signatures to force the Coalition into the meeting.
Paul Karp, our reporter, tells me the defence minister, Marise Payne, has just left Turnbull’s office.Paul Karp, our reporter, tells me the defence minister, Marise Payne, has just left Turnbull’s office.
The chief government whip is denying there’ll be a party room meeting tonight.The chief government whip is denying there’ll be a party room meeting tonight.
So a letter calling for a party room meeting (ie another spill) is “going around”. Technically it needs 43 signatures to force a meeting. But Dutton supporters say even short of that Turnbull would have to agree or look scared. Meeting may not happen tonight.So a letter calling for a party room meeting (ie another spill) is “going around”. Technically it needs 43 signatures to force a meeting. But Dutton supporters say even short of that Turnbull would have to agree or look scared. Meeting may not happen tonight.
I've had one Lib just say there'll be a party room meeting tonight. Whip's office saying no. #auspol #libspillI've had one Lib just say there'll be a party room meeting tonight. Whip's office saying no. #auspol #libspill
A Liberal MP tells me it is true there is a petition going around tonight to call a leadership spill #libspill #auspolA Liberal MP tells me it is true there is a petition going around tonight to call a leadership spill #libspill #auspol
My colleague Paul Karp has just seen Christopher Pyne and Trent Zimmerman go into Malcolm Turnbull’s office. It could mean something, it could mean nothing. Hang with us, we’re doing our best to keep track with a rapidly evolving situation.My colleague Paul Karp has just seen Christopher Pyne and Trent Zimmerman go into Malcolm Turnbull’s office. It could mean something, it could mean nothing. Hang with us, we’re doing our best to keep track with a rapidly evolving situation.
We warned you earlier things were liable to change with extraordinary speed. Well, 2GB’s Alan Jones has just tweeted that we should all “Get ready. Party room meeting tonight”.
Cool your heels, at least for the moment.
Our editor Katharine Murphy has done a ring-around of Coalition MPs, who are saying they’ve heard nothing of the sort.
The office of Nola Marino, the chief government whip, has told us it’s “completely untrue”.
Stay tuned.
Get ready. Party room meeting tonight. Goodbye Malcolm who doesn’t have the numbers. #auspol
A snap Roy Morgan poll, to be released tomorrow, suggests Malcolm Turnbull remains the preferred prime minister over Bill Shorten. But it also suggests Shorten is preferred to Peter Dutton.
It polled a cross-section of more than 1,200 voters. Key results are:
Malcolm Turnbull was preferred as the PM (52%) Shorten (44.5%). A further 3.5% were undecided.
Shorten (59%) rates above Dutton (36.5%). A further 4.5% can’t say.
Another view of Peter Dutton’s radical transformation, from Canberra Times cartoonist David Pope.
Brushing the potato pic.twitter.com/CXilnoBEjM
Laundy describes Dutton’s GST policy as “populist” and warns that populism has “infected conservatism”.
I wouldn’t call it a policy agenda, I’d call it some thoughts he had on Melbourne radio this morning.
Ooft.
In other news, we’ll hear from another Turnbull backer, Julie Bishop, on The Project tonight.
Tune in to The Project tonight - we have Julie Bishop as one of our guests. #auspol pic.twitter.com/WoeMJQFd60
It looks almost certain that we won’t see a second spill tonight. It’s getting late and the houses will soon rise. That leaves only one day left in the current sitting period, before a two-week break.
Liberal MP Craig Laundy, a supporter of Turnbull, has just appeared on ABC radio. He’s asked whether we’ll see a challenge tomorrow or in coming weeks.
I hope not, because what’s required now is that we all come together, unite, after yesterday’s leadership ballot.
He said the ministers who had pledged loyalty to Turnbull have indicated a “conciliatory outlook”.
Laundy said he was “disappointed” to hear Dutton say he was still working the phones, trying to drum up more support for a second tilt. He said it “flies in the face” of what Dutton has said previously.
I do plan to pass that on.
Amid the chaos of today, there were two very significant policy decisions. One, the abandonment of the corporate tax cut, we’ve discussed at length.
But the government also pledged to stop trying to abolish the energy supplement. That supplement is a payment between $4 and $7 per week to welfare recipients, designed to help those on low incomes deal with energy costs.
The Australian council of social service (Acoss) has welcomed the decision, saying the threat of losing the payment has “caused anxiety in the community” since 2016. Acoss chief executive Cassandra Goldie has just issued this statement:
The Prime Minister’s announcement to retain the energy supplement is an important recognition that people on the lowest incomes in Australia are doing it the toughest.
We have always said that it is people living on Newstart, Youth Allowance and other income support payments who are struggling most when it comes to covering the basics like food, energy bills and rent. They need every cent of this supplement.
We also thank the Senate today for listening to the voices of the community and strongly opposing the company tax cut bill which would have cost the budget billions and put further pressure on essential services upon which we all rely.
My colleague, Ben Smee, has taken a look at Dutton’s transformation in the last 24 hours. Has it worked?
Dutton’s image makeover has been carried out with mixed results though.
During his 30 minutes on Sky, Dutton barely mustered that illusive smile, or cracked a joke.
The newly minted everyman backbencher also stumbled on Triple M when offered “an easy one”, as the presenter put it, and was asked to nominate a favourite AC/DC song.
Dutton couldn’t name one, he had to admit, blaming sleep deprivation.
Victoria is a problem area for Dutton. He clearly knows it. His two radio interviews this morning were with two Melbourne stations, 3AW and Triple M. But News Corp is reporting that voters in the state have bombarded their local MPs with letters warning they could not vote for Dutton. News Corp cited one email, which read:
I would not be able to continue supporting you under Dutton and the dreadful way he behaves to migrants to this country etc.
Hugh Riminton of Ten news is reporting that Dutton’s decisions as home affairs minister could be overturned, should the high court find him ineligible. The same was said during Fiona Nash and Barnaby Joyce’s citizenship woes, although it came to nothing in the end.
A bit more from that Abbott interview, which I’m still scratching my head over, to be honest. He is asked why Turnbull would stick up for Dutton over his eligibility question, given Dutton just tried to unceremoniously turf him from office. Abbott explains it thusly:
Well look we’ve all got to do our bit for the team. When you’re the team leader, you protect the team, even the people who might be your critics at this time. That’s your job, to protect the team.
Playing for the team. Good stuff.