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| Peter Dutton backers launch push for new party room meeting as James McGrath quits – politics live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| We told you James McGrath, a frontbencher, had forced his resignation on Turnbull. He helpfully posted his resignation letter on Facebook. Here’s a flavour of it: | |
| The people who have for all their lives counted on us to look after them and their families are now questioning their commitment to them. Our people feel forgotten, ignored, and spoken down to. As a Liberal National party senator for Queensland, this is an intolerable situation. | |
| As I have said to you previously, my most important job is that of a Liberal National party senator for Queensland. The values of the Liberal National party and its members and supporters must always come first - before my career and yours. | |
| It’s tough to see how there’ll be a party room meeting tonight. The Senate and the lower house have both called it quits, and Liberal MPs are thought to have already left the building. | |
| The lower house ended with a “welcome to Australia” from Liberal MP Lucy Wick to Usain Bolt, the sprinting superstar. I just hope Bolt isn’t watching the goings on in Wicks’ party. He might want to make a quick exit. | |
| The health minister, Greg Hunt, has told media his position has not changed. He still supports Turnbull. | |
| Greg Hunt tells media at Parliament House his position hasn’t changed from Question Time. PM has his support. #auspol | |
| Meanwhile, Labor’s Anthony Albanese is poking the beast over on Sky News. He tells the Coalition to “call an election” so they can be put “out of their misery”. | |
| James McGrath has been to see Malcolm Turnbull and tendered his resignation. He says he insisted the resignation be accepted, which it was. | |
| You’ll remember that McGrath was previously the minister assisting the prime minister. He was part of Turnbull’s inner circle. McGrath did Turnbull’s numbers during the successful challenge against Abbott. | |
| Times sure have changed. McGrath is now the third frontbencher to resign, following Dutton and Concetta Fierravanti-Wells. | |
| Please do forgive us as we wade through the misinformation to find the truth of this push from the Dutton camp. Already we’ve heard false reports about cabinet figures – Mathias Cormann and Dan Tehan – resigning and declaring their hand for Dutton. | |
| The key thing that we’re trying to work out is this: does the Dutton camp have the numbers to force a meeting? The numbers are unclear so far. | |
| and Guardian Australia's politics live https://t.co/rzGx4oRT0C https://t.co/3ETGXiQ1zd | |
| 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. | 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 | "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”. | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | Tehan has not switched sides, we have confirmed. |
| Dan Tehan has not shifted: "I will not vote against a sitting PM" #auspol @knausc | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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 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 | 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. | 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 | 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 @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 @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 #libspill | I'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 #auspol | A 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. |