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'The iron laws of arithmetic confirm my leadership of the Liberal party,' Turnbull says – politics live Turnbull says cabinet ministers have pledged him 'loyalty and support' – politics live
(35 minutes later)
We’re about to head into question time. Expect Labor to go for the jugular.
Until then, Mike Bowers captured some glorious shots from that press conference for our mutual enjoyment. The optics were important for Turnbull. Addressing the nation with Scott Morrison and Mathias Cormann by his side sent a strong message to his internal foes.
An interesting development. The former Australian Border Force commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg has personal knowledge of the involvement of Peter Dutton’s office in the unusual ministerial intervention in a foreign au pair’s visa case, a source has told Guardian Australia.
You can read the full story here.
Malcolm Turnbull walks away from his podium, only to remember something and come back. He tells the press pack that cabinet ministers have pledged him loyalty.
Look, what I’m endeavouring to do is to obviously ensure that the party is stable, to maintain the stability of the government of Australia. That’s critically important. And so the Cabinet ministers, apart from Peter Dutton, of course, who came to me and told me that they had voted for Mr Dutton in the leadership ballot, have given me unequivocal assurances of continuing loyalty and support
Treasurer Scott Morrison is asked whether he’ll shift his allegiance to Peter Dutton.Treasurer Scott Morrison is asked whether he’ll shift his allegiance to Peter Dutton.
He says “this is my leader” and puts his arm around Turnbull.He says “this is my leader” and puts his arm around Turnbull.
Turnbull is chuffed:Turnbull is chuffed:
Good on ya, thanks ScoMo.Good on ya, thanks ScoMo.
This place has lost the plot.This place has lost the plot.
Everyone at Parliament has lost their minds. PM holding presser on tax and everyone rushes the one TV like it’s Churchill announcing the end of the war pic.twitter.com/c6HNNcdibpEveryone at Parliament has lost their minds. PM holding presser on tax and everyone rushes the one TV like it’s Churchill announcing the end of the war pic.twitter.com/c6HNNcdibp
Malcolm Turnbull is hardly putting up much of a fight here. He looks tired, you have to say. He’s asked about Dutton’s admission that he’s still counting the numbers. Turnbull says:Malcolm Turnbull is hardly putting up much of a fight here. He looks tired, you have to say. He’s asked about Dutton’s admission that he’s still counting the numbers. Turnbull says:
Well we had a ballot earlier this week as you know. I think yesterday, in fact.Well we had a ballot earlier this week as you know. I think yesterday, in fact.
Then the magical laws of arithmetic come back, again.Then the magical laws of arithmetic come back, again.
The iron laws of arithmetic confirm my leadership of the Liberal party.The iron laws of arithmetic confirm my leadership of the Liberal party.
Turnbull is asked about his leadership rival Peter Dutton’s plan to cut the GST from energy bills. He says:Turnbull is asked about his leadership rival Peter Dutton’s plan to cut the GST from energy bills. He says:
It’s certainly very expensive and I might ask the treasurer to describe what it would cost and needless to say the states would certainly expect to be reimbursed.It’s certainly very expensive and I might ask the treasurer to describe what it would cost and needless to say the states would certainly expect to be reimbursed.
Scott Morrison says it would cost about 7.5bn over four years.Scott Morrison says it would cost about 7.5bn over four years.
Now that would be a budget blower, an absolute budget blower.Now that would be a budget blower, an absolute budget blower.
Things look less than comfortable down there in the PM’s courtyard. Not a lot of sleep for these three, I’ll wager.Things look less than comfortable down there in the PM’s courtyard. Not a lot of sleep for these three, I’ll wager.
The body language here is excruciating #auspol @SBSNews pic.twitter.com/shvlLLwqfLThe body language here is excruciating #auspol @SBSNews pic.twitter.com/shvlLLwqfL
Interesting that treasurer Scott Morrison is standing by Turnbull’s side. It wasn’t long ago that he was rebuffing claims he was counting the numbers for Peter Dutton. Looks like that report was a bit of mischief from someone.Interesting that treasurer Scott Morrison is standing by Turnbull’s side. It wasn’t long ago that he was rebuffing claims he was counting the numbers for Peter Dutton. Looks like that report was a bit of mischief from someone.
Morrison says the blocking of the company tax cut by the Senate leaves Australia with the second highest corporate tax cut in the OECD.Morrison says the blocking of the company tax cut by the Senate leaves Australia with the second highest corporate tax cut in the OECD.
It is a great shame that the Labor party and the One Nation party and others who voted to ensure that Australia has the second-highest corporate tax rate in the world is what those businesses are now facing. It’s not a great position to be in, but you have to work in the realm of the possible in government and that’s what we’ve done, that’s why we’ve been able to get so much done.It is a great shame that the Labor party and the One Nation party and others who voted to ensure that Australia has the second-highest corporate tax rate in the world is what those businesses are now facing. It’s not a great position to be in, but you have to work in the realm of the possible in government and that’s what we’ve done, that’s why we’ve been able to get so much done.
Malcolm Turnbull is speaking now. He’s talking up the tax cut already given to businesses with a turnover less than $50m.Malcolm Turnbull is speaking now. He’s talking up the tax cut already given to businesses with a turnover less than $50m.
He again laments the “iron laws of arithmetic” that prevented the government getting its tax cut for bigger businesses through the Senate.He again laments the “iron laws of arithmetic” that prevented the government getting its tax cut for bigger businesses through the Senate.
Those darn laws of arithmetic. They’ve really been causing Turnbull some problems recently.Those darn laws of arithmetic. They’ve really been causing Turnbull some problems recently.
Turnbull then confirms the Coalition will not take the company tax cuts to the next election.Turnbull then confirms the Coalition will not take the company tax cuts to the next election.
He also announces the Coalition will no longer repeal the energy supplement.He also announces the Coalition will no longer repeal the energy supplement.
Malcolm Turnbull reckons this press conference is going to be all about the failed company tax cuts legislation. I doubt that. I doubt that very much.Malcolm Turnbull reckons this press conference is going to be all about the failed company tax cuts legislation. I doubt that. I doubt that very much.
Standing by... #auspol @SBSNews pic.twitter.com/kDixEFf06zStanding by... #auspol @SBSNews pic.twitter.com/kDixEFf06z
Malcolm Turnbull and finance minister Mathias Cormann will speak to media at 1pm. They’ve called a joint press conference in that most important of venues, the prime minister’s courtyard.Malcolm Turnbull and finance minister Mathias Cormann will speak to media at 1pm. They’ve called a joint press conference in that most important of venues, the prime minister’s courtyard.
The ABC’s election analyst, Antony Green, has given lie to the suggestion that Turnbull might try to pre-empt a challenge by calling an early election. It’s simply not feasible, he says.The ABC’s election analyst, Antony Green, has given lie to the suggestion that Turnbull might try to pre-empt a challenge by calling an early election. It’s simply not feasible, he says.
If the prime minister tried to call an election, say before there was a vote on his leadership within the party, the office of the governor general monitors the press, reads the newspaper, listens to radio and television and they’d be roughly aware of what’s going on. And while you can name an election date, there are other procedures that have to go ahead like the dissolution of the House, the issues of writs through the executive council. The issuing of writs through the state governors. It takes a day or two to get everything in place before an election is actually formally called. So a similar situation in Queensland in 1987 when one tried to restructure the ministry and call an election. And the governor asked the questions and, after a day or two, eventually he was rolled by his own party. I can’t imagine that the prime minister, facing a vote of no confidence, will call an election.If the prime minister tried to call an election, say before there was a vote on his leadership within the party, the office of the governor general monitors the press, reads the newspaper, listens to radio and television and they’d be roughly aware of what’s going on. And while you can name an election date, there are other procedures that have to go ahead like the dissolution of the House, the issues of writs through the executive council. The issuing of writs through the state governors. It takes a day or two to get everything in place before an election is actually formally called. So a similar situation in Queensland in 1987 when one tried to restructure the ministry and call an election. And the governor asked the questions and, after a day or two, eventually he was rolled by his own party. I can’t imagine that the prime minister, facing a vote of no confidence, will call an election.