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| Labor releases legal advice saying Dutton ineligible as backers push for party room meeting – politics live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Liberal senator Jim Molan is on Sky News having a go at the media for seeking “gotcha” moments by asking Liberals who they are supporting. Molan earlier put a statement on Facebook that was equivocal on his support for Turnbull, before quickly calling news outlets to clarify that he in fact supported Dutton. | |
| He also tells Sky that everything is going to plan. | |
| In that case I’d hate to see the Liberal Party freestyling https://t.co/SJPbh2GesG | |
| The former deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, has called for the Liberals to bring in John Howard to sort out the current leadership turmoil. | |
| Joyce said Howard could “ring up everyone [and] find out what their position is”. He could then tell both sides their numbers, without fear or favour, and the situation would be resolved. | |
| Joyce tells Sky News he never supported parties knifing sitting prime ministers. Gillard should not have deposed, Rudd should not have challenged Gillard. | |
| Malcolm Turnbull should never have got rid of Tony Abbott. That’s what I think generally people want. And now what I think we have is a situation is that it’s patently bad, and not good for us ... so we’ve got to get through this as soon as possible and move on. | |
| The Nationals MP Ken O’Dowd, a Queenslander, spoke to reporters a little earlier, as he left the building. He said he thinks both the Liberal and National parties aren’t ready for an election, because they haven’t sorted out preselections in some seats. He also said he thinks he would have a greater chance at re-election under Dutton. | |
| Labor has written to the prime minister on the eligibility of Peter Dutton to sit in parliament, given his interests in a childcare company that received subsidies from the federal government. | |
| It has legal advice that was provided by Bret Walker, SC, in April. The advice has been seen by Guardian Australia. | |
| It doesn’t look good for Dutton, in Walker’s view. He finds that “in our opinion, Mr Dutton was incapable of being chosen for the 45th parliament and is not entitled to continue to sit in the 45th parliament”. | |
| In our opinion it is clearly arguable that this at least represents an indirect pecuniary interest and possibly also a direct pecuniary interest within the meaning of s44 (v) of the constitution. We have assumed that Mr Dutton held the interest when the trustee of the family trust, namely RHT investments (Qld) Pty Ltd, first started to receive the CC Benefit and CC Rebate, which would have been sometime in 2014. As such, it follows that, in our opinion, Mr Dutton was incapable of being chosen for the 45th parliament and is not entitled to continue to sit in the 45th parliament. If this matter were referred to the high court sitting as the court of disputed returns, and if our assumptions are correct, there is a reasonable prospect that the court would make its decision in accordance with this conclusion. | |
| It’s important to remember that Dutton claims he has his own advice, provided by a QC, that confirms he was eligible. The case was referred to the solicitor general earlier today for consideration. | |
| Jane Prentice, a Queensland Liberal National MP, said a petition does exist. Her latest estimate was that there were nine signatures. That was a couple of hours ago. | Jane Prentice, a Queensland Liberal National MP, said a petition does exist. Her latest estimate was that there were nine signatures. That was a couple of hours ago. |
| I understand there’s a petition. I understand that a couple of hours ago there were nine signatures. | |
| What does she think of the petition? | What does she think of the petition? |
| I think people should stop thinking about themselves and start thinking about the people of Australia. | I think people should stop thinking about themselves and start thinking about the people of Australia. |
| Prentice is a Turnbull supporter. | |
| Liberal National MP Bert van Manen has told reporters there is a lot of “fake news” about a second push by the Dutton camp. | |
| “I haven’t seen the petition and I’m going to enjoy tonight,” van Manen said. “A lot of what’s being commentated and what I’ve seen going around at the moment is what I would call ‘fake news’.” | |
| Liberal MPs Luke Howarth and Andrew Laming have just left the building. | Liberal MPs Luke Howarth and Andrew Laming have just left the building. |
| Howarth is asked whether there is a petition circulating. He says he doesn’t think so. Howarth said he hadn’t seen anything himself. | Howarth is asked whether there is a petition circulating. He says he doesn’t think so. Howarth said he hadn’t seen anything himself. |
| Liberal MPs are continuing to leave parliament, further suggesting any meeting will not take place tonight. | Liberal MPs are continuing to leave parliament, further suggesting any meeting will not take place tonight. |
| One MP tells reporters that he hopes he can come back tomorrow and focus on what the Australian people want us to be doing. Has he signed the letter? | One MP tells reporters that he hopes he can come back tomorrow and focus on what the Australian people want us to be doing. Has he signed the letter? |
| What sort of letter? Is it a French letter is it? I’m not sure what you mean, you need to clarify this. | What sort of letter? Is it a French letter is it? I’m not sure what you mean, you need to clarify this. |
| Andrew Wilkie leaving Parliament tonight: “The country’s had a gutful of the antics in this place. I don’t think they really care who’s running it as long as it’s run competently.# #libspill | Andrew Wilkie leaving Parliament tonight: “The country’s had a gutful of the antics in this place. I don’t think they really care who’s running it as long as it’s run competently.# #libspill |
| Liberal moderates are telling us the Dutton camp doesn’t have the numbers. Take that with a grain of salt, obviously. Let’s wait and see how the night plays out. | Liberal moderates are telling us the Dutton camp doesn’t have the numbers. Take that with a grain of salt, obviously. Let’s wait and see how the night plays out. |
| Never tweet. | Never tweet. |
| pic.twitter.com/hxgtPdcLDi | pic.twitter.com/hxgtPdcLDi |
| 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: | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 Wicks to Usain Bolt, the sprinting superstar. I just hope Bolt isn’t watching the goings on in Wicks’s party. He might want to make a quick exit. | The lower house ended with a “welcome to Australia” from Liberal MP Lucy Wicks to Usain Bolt, the sprinting superstar. I just hope Bolt isn’t watching the goings on in Wicks’s 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. | 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 | 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”. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 | 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 |