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Malcolm Turnbull: PM battles cabinet rebellion over leadership | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Ten government ministers in Australia have offered to resign following a failed bid to oust Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull as party leader. | Ten government ministers in Australia have offered to resign following a failed bid to oust Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull as party leader. |
Mr Turnbull narrowly won a leadership vote in his cabinet on Tuesday but is now likely to face a second challenge. | |
He accepted the resignation of his challenger, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, and one other minister. | |
Mr Turnbull is under pressure because of a long run of poor polling and a divisive energy policy. | |
His centre-right coalition will face a general election by May next year, after recently losing a key by-election in Queensland. | |
The opposition Labor party has accused the government of being in "chaos". | The opposition Labor party has accused the government of being in "chaos". |
Now on the backbench, Mr Dutton has said he is still actively campaigning for the leadership and has lobbied other MPs for their support in a second vote. | |
"You do not go into a ballot believing that you can lose and if I believe that a majority of colleagues support me then I would consider my position," he told radio station 3AW. | "You do not go into a ballot believing that you can lose and if I believe that a majority of colleagues support me then I would consider my position," he told radio station 3AW. |
'The country is not governed' | 'The country is not governed' |
Mr Turnbull initiated the first vote among cabinet members on Tuesday in an attempt to end growing speculation about his position as leader of the Liberal party. He won by a margin of just 13 votes. | Mr Turnbull initiated the first vote among cabinet members on Tuesday in an attempt to end growing speculation about his position as leader of the Liberal party. He won by a margin of just 13 votes. |
"The iron laws of arithmetic confirmed my leadership," he told reporters on Wednesday when asked about his future. | "The iron laws of arithmetic confirmed my leadership," he told reporters on Wednesday when asked about his future. |
The under-pressure PM has now withdrawn two major policies, admitting defeat over a company tax plan on Wednesday. | |
He had earlier abandoned a key commitment to set an emissions reduction target in law, in an attempt to ward off party conflict. | |
Mr Turnbull confirmed he had asked eight ministers to stay on in his ministry despite their offers to stand down. | Mr Turnbull confirmed he had asked eight ministers to stay on in his ministry despite their offers to stand down. |
Along with Mr Dutton's resignation, he also let go the International Development Minister Concetta Fierravanti-Wells. | Along with Mr Dutton's resignation, he also let go the International Development Minister Concetta Fierravanti-Wells. |
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Mr Turnbull said: "What I'm endeavouring to do is to obviously ensure that the party is stable, to maintain the stability of the government of Australia." | Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Mr Turnbull said: "What I'm endeavouring to do is to obviously ensure that the party is stable, to maintain the stability of the government of Australia." |
Many Australians online have responded to the battle in Canberra with a sense of frustration and dismay. | Many Australians online have responded to the battle in Canberra with a sense of frustration and dismay. |
Labor tried to move a motion of no confidence against the prime minister in parliament on Tuesday. | |
"While chaos reigns, the country is not governed," Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek said. | "While chaos reigns, the country is not governed," Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek said. |
Under the Australian system, as in the UK, the prime minister is not directly elected by voters but is the leader of the party or coalition that can command a majority in parliament. | Under the Australian system, as in the UK, the prime minister is not directly elected by voters but is the leader of the party or coalition that can command a majority in parliament. |
Over the past decade, Australian politics has been marked by a series of leadership coups, with three sitting prime ministers deposed by party rivals within their first terms. | Over the past decade, Australian politics has been marked by a series of leadership coups, with three sitting prime ministers deposed by party rivals within their first terms. |