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Peter Dutton calls for second leadership spill amid chaos in Canberra – politics live Cormann, Fifield and Cash abandon Turnbull – politics live
(35 minutes later)
More movement outside Turnbull’s office. Guardian Australia reporter, Gareth Hutchens, says Mathias Cormann, Michaelia Cash, and Mitch Fifield have just walked out together. This is potentially important. Cormann is a crucial player in all of this. He’s a senior cabinet minister, currently loyal to Turnbull, but good friends with Dutton. If he switches sides, it will be a bitter blow for Turnbull. How is everyone? Still with me? In case you’re as confused I am, I’ve just checked, and yes, we are in Australia (a developed democratic nation), and yes, we are about to see, yet again, a sitting prime minister turfed without finishing a full term. I’ve also slapped myself a few times and we are not, in fact, in some never-ending political nightmare.
Hutchens reports the trio “walked side by side, in the traditional ‘show of force’ stride”. Let’s map out the next steps. You have to think with that dramatic intervention, the next step will be a party room meeting. Will Turnbull contest a ballot? Will a third, surprise leadership contender emerge? Or will Turnbull see the writing on the wall, and allow the leadership to transfer without contest?
Chris Uhlmann, Nine’s political correspondent, has launched an extraordinary broadside against elements of News Corp and 2GB for their role in fomenting the current crisis. He says the Turnbull camp believes News Corp and 2GB are waging a war against the prime minister. Today Malcolm Turnbull has overtaken Gough Whitlam to become the 15th longest serving Australia prime minister at 2 years, 342 days. pic.twitter.com/P0k84JKqv4
Uhlmann labels elements within those media companies as “bullies”. The Liberal Party is about to go to a ballot without legal advice from the commonwealth's top legal officer about whether the challenger is eligible to sit in parliament. NOT GOOD ENOUGH. #auspol #libspill #auslaw
Apparently, if you say that to them now, they get their knickers into a huge twist. Now if they want to be players in this game ... if they are making phone calls to people, trying to push people over the line, they are part of this story. All I’m saying is, if they want to dish it out, they should be prepared to take it. They are among the biggest bullies in the land, and it’s about time people called them out for what they are. And if they don’t like that, they can come after me. Remember this? The mateship? The smiles? The embrace?
Ouch. It was less than 24 hours ago. Politics, what a business.
"News corporations...are waging a war against the Prime Minister of Australia" - @CUhlmann #9Today pic.twitter.com/UaQBLTv0bQ Cormann looked resigned and downcast during that press conference. He knew the enormity of what he was doing. It’s all over for Turnbull.
There’s been a fair bit of movement in and around the prime minister’s office this morning. My colleague, Gareth Hutchens, is down near the ministerial wing, monitoring developments. I’m sure you were all glued to a television screen, somewhere. But if not, here’s the vision.
He’s just watched Julie Bishop and Scott Morrison leave a meeting in the PM’s office. #BREAKING: @MathiasCormann has advised @TurnbullMalcolm that he has lost the majority. "I really do hope that this can be resolved swiftly." Cormann, Fifield, and Cash have tendered their resignations to the Prime Minister. #9Today pic.twitter.com/InWZ1B2Y1O
Martin Parkinson, the secretary of the department of prime minister and cabinet, has walked in a few minutes ago. A leadership spill, surely, is now inevitable. With that dramatic switch from Cormann, Cash and Fifield, Turnbull looks done.
A conservative tells me there’s something of a Catch 22 in play right at the minute. Cormann says none of the trio were part of any conspiracy against Turnbull. He says Turnbull will go down as a “great prime minister”.
According to this account, several people who say they support Peter Dutton aren’t prepared to sign the petition. The language is fatal for Turnbull. He’s done in the eyes of Cormann.
They are telling number crunchers they will vote for him in a spill, but not commit their name to paper. My informant put the number of non-signees in the order of 15 MPs. If this is correct, and the dam doesn’t break over the course of the day, we are in a Mexican standoff. I believe that Malcolm Turnbull has been and is a great prime minister. I believe that he will go down in history as having secured amazing achievements for Australia. There’s no question that Malcolm Turnbull’s plan for the economy, for jobs in relation to our national security - that we all have been part of implementing - has left the country stronger and in a better position.
A senior Turnbull backer insists there will be no meeting until there are 43 names on a petition, and no meeting with a challenger “under a constitutional cloud”. Cormann says he believes Dutton is the best man to take the Coalition to the election. But when asked whether the Coalition is now in a better position to win the election, he only offers this:
Speaking of Kevin Rudd, he’s entered the current fracas to offer a warning. I will let Peter Dutton talk for himself. We have made that judgment. It is a matter for the party room.
I’m sure we all remember Dutton walking out as Rudd delivered his apology to the stolen generations. For that reason alone, Rudd says Dutton should never by prime minister. Mitch Fifield and Mathias Cormann and Michaelia Cash say the Prime Minister has lost the support of the party room. pic.twitter.com/oeD5f0hVaH
A grown man, experienced politician who knew what he was doing - sending a dog-whistle to racist sentiment. A question of character. For this reason alone, he should never be Prime Minister Cormann is asked whether he thinks this is destroying the Liberals and is an embarrassment for the country. He responds:
Dutton was an MP for 7 years and was 38 when he boycotted the apology to first Australians. A grown man, experienced politician who knew what he was doing - sending a dog-whistle to racist sentiment. A question of character.For this reason alone, he should never be Prime Minister I did not want to be in this position. I have loyally supported Malcolm Turnbull since he was elected leader of the Liberal Party. I was wanting to continue to support Malcolm Turnbull for years to come as leader of the Liberal Party. But I can’t ignore reality.
So, the crucial question. Where are we at with this petition? The numbers are still very, very unclear. It’s thought Dutton would need 43 signatures to overwhelm Turnbull and force him into a party room meeting, which would then force a second ballot for the leadership. Cash and Fifield say they supported Turnbull in Tuesday’s ballot. They say that support has now been lost. Both say a party room meeting must now be called.
Is it a bluff? Well, Turnbull certainly thinks so. You’ll remember he’s already called for Dutton to put up or shut up. He’s saying “show me evidence of the petition and the required signatures, and I’ll call a meeting”. Fifield:
Dutton is yet to do that, but he did intimate a little earlier that he wouldn’t have called for a second meeting if he didn’t have the numbers. What needs to happen is this issue is resolved. We cannot allow this situation to continue. It does need to be resolved. These are difficult circumstances and what our focus is on - is to endeavour to achieve a resolution as quickly as possible.
We spoke last night about the history of this tactic. It has been used in an underhanded way in the past, so we need to be careful. Cash:
When Rudd took the leadership from Gillard, rumours of a petition were intentionally circulated through the press gallery. It was enough to scare Gillard into a party room meeting and facilitate a successful challenge, securing Rudd power. The petition never materialised. I became aware yesterday that it was very clear that the prime minister no longer, in my opinion, had the confidence of the party room. I too met with the prime minister yesterday afternoon and I advised him of this, and I urged him to call a party room meeting. My opinion in that regard has not changed overnight.
In this case, we have more confidence that the petition exists. Multiple sources have assured us they have laid actual eyes on the petition. Jane Prentice, a Liberal MP and Turnbull backer, said publicly that the petition existed, and that when she saw it last night it had nine signatures. Cormann reveals he was taken utterly by surprise when Turnbull called a spill on Tuesday. He said he “did not want to be here”.
Right, well. In case you were under any illusion, the Coalition is now tearing itself to shreds in full public glare, rather than in the shadows. I did not want to be here in this position. I did not know that there was going to be a motion from the prime minister to declare the leadership positions vacant on Tuesday.
In the space of about five minutes, we’ve heard strong words from two Coalition MPs. Not backgrounding, no anonymous quoting. Just full-on attacks in the public sphere. I, like others, was taken by surprise and I guess the reason we are here now is because that crystallised the views of the party room at that point, and in the context of a number of colleagues, including five Cabinet ministers who supported Malcolm on Tuesday, indicating to me that they were of the view that there needed to be a change in the leadership of the Liberal Party.
Nationals MP Michelle Landry said: Cormann, Cash and Fifield have all tendered their resignations. Cormann:
I do think that this is Tony Abbott and his mates who are doing this, and it’s a disgrace. It’s revenge on him losing the prime ministership and I’ve had enough, my electorate has had enough. If they’re going to change, do it today, let us get on with the job. We have had a further meeting with the Prime Minister this morning, all three of us, to confirm that we believe that there should be a party room meeting to resolve the issue of the leadership of the Liberal Party, to provide certainty around the support for the leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party and all of us tendered our resignation to the Prime Minister
Liberal MP Sarah Henderson said she was offered a ministry to move to Dutton’s camp. Mathias Cormann, Michaelia Cash, and Mitch Fifield have abandoned the prime minister.
To be rewarded for an act of treachery would be a terrible thing. This is crucial and could see the end of Turnbull.
Liberal MP Sarah Henderson tells Melbourne radio that she was offered a ministry in exchange for switching to Peter Dutton.'To be rewarded for an act of treachery would be a terrible thing," she said.#auspol #libspill Cormann:
Senior Labor figures hit the airwaves this morning, seeking to heap pressure on Dutton over the eligibility question. It’s with great sadness and a heavy heart that we went to see the Prime Minister yesterday afternoon to advise him that in our judgment he no longer enjoyed the support of the majority of members in the Liberal Party party room and that it was in the best interests of the Liberal Party to help manage an orderly transition to a new leader.
Tony Burke, manager of opposition business, said: This could be a critical press conference coming up from Cormann, Cash and Fifield. It’s listed for 9.35am. Don’t leave your seats.
There are really serious question marks over whether or not the man who wants to be prime minister of Australia later on today is even eligible to be a member of Parliament. They’re approaching the media pack now.
And this is because of his financial interests. The constitution’s clear, you can’t be taking cash for your business from the government and at the same time be a member of Parliament. And so there are really serious questions to answer here. Ray Hadley on 2GB is doing forward sizzle and saying they're going to take us live to this presser...doesn't sound like it's about 5G guys... #auspol #libspill https://t.co/zXjVqO8RcE
Progressive forces are already marshalling against Dutton, and GetUp has played a significant role. Earlier this week, the group released focus group research and polling that showed Dutton lacked support and was a relative unknown among voters.
GetUp has now come to parliament. They’re planning an event at 10am. They are gathering with human rights activists with photos of the children still on Nauru. Dutton this week said he was proud of having removed children from detention. GetUP calls this a “lie”.
Shen Narayanasamy, GetUp’s human rights advocate, said Dutton needed to acknowledge the truth. She said:
Backbencher Peter Dutton said he had every child out of detention, but after 5 long years there are still 116 children detained offshore on Nauru. 40 of them were born behind bars.
The only life these children have known are guards shouting, steel fences, and unending detention on a tiny island the size of Melbourne’s airport. Where they’re called by a number, not even a name.
Human rights groups set deadline to get all refugee children off Nauru writes @heldavidson https://t.co/Mq483lHA3T
And more on Dutton’s eligibility. This is from George Williams, one of the most esteemed constitutional experts in the country. He’s read the advice commissioned by Labor and prepared by Bret Walker, SC. Williams is unequivocal.
It is clear that Peter Dutton should be referred to the high court. There is a real prospect that a person seeking to be our PM has breached section 44 of the constitution and is disqualified from parliament.
What does this mean in practical terms? Well, it requires parliament to refer Dutton to the high court, and that’s highly unlikely. What it does do, however, is put more doubt in the minds of those Coalition MPs sitting on the fence in this leadership tussle.
Can they side with a leader who may not even be eligible for parliament?
Having read the advice by Bret Walker SC, it is clear that Peter Dutton should be referred to the High Court. There is a real prospect that a person seeking to be our PM has breached section 44 of the Constitution and is disqualified from Parliament.https://t.co/n2fNxJjXuq
Just a little more on Peter Dutton’s legal advice. He sought it in December last year, so this whole issue has been in play for a long, long time.
Are you still struggling to work out what this is all about? I’ll try to break it down. You’ll remember that earlier this week serious questions were raised about Turnbull’s eligibility for parliament.
Dutton’s problem lies in a section of the constitution (section 44 [v]) that bars MPs from holding a financial interest in the federal government. In this case, it’s alleged that Dutton’s family trust owned a childcare company that was receiving millions in government subsidies renders him ineligible.
Dutton has released his own legal advice, which amounts to two pages. It finds he is in the clear because Dutton’s trust did not have a formal agreement - of the kind referred to in the constitution- with the government to receive the subsidies. What they’re saying, in essence, is that the payments were made under a statutory scheme that required no formal contract with Dutton or his trust.
In the present instance, there is, in my opinion, no “agreement” within the meaning of s.44 (v) to which the trustee company is a party. The only relevant rights which are created are species of statutory entitlement. Accordingly, Mr Dutton cannot have a pecuniary interest in an agreement within the meaning of s.44(v) by virtue of the trustee company’s receipt of payments under this statutory scheme.
The advice, as I say, is only two pages. The lawyer who authored it is not a well-known constitutional expert.
On the other hand, two of Australia’s leading constitutional minds, Anne Twomey and George Williams, have both said Dutton has a case to answer.
Labor also commissioned legal advice from another very senior legal figure, Bret Walker, SC, who found Dutton was arguably ineligible for parliament. Walker’s opinion was more exhaustive and voluminous. It stretches out to about 16 pages.
This all appears to be part of the Dutton camp’s strategy. Keep things moving. Keep the pressure on Turnbull. Try to force him into a party room meeting.
We saw similar tactics last night. Turnbull is, so far, remaining firm. They are confident they still have the numbers.
One of Turnbull’s key backers, Trent Zimmerman, spoke a little earlier. He said he is aware of no one who has switched to Dutton’s camp since Tuesday. In fact, he says all we’ve seen is some of the cabinet ministers who offered their resignations since re-affirm their loyalty to Turnbull.
I’m not aware of anyone who’s changed their views since Tuesday’s party room meeting.
Does Turnbull have the numbers?
I’m confident that that’s the case, since Tuesday we’ve obviously also seen strong statement of support from those cabinet ministers that voted for Peter Dutton on Tuesday.
Blink and you’ll have missed it. Dutton’s press conference was incredibly brief.
He confirmed only that he asked for a second leadership spill.
I’m going to address the media later on. As I put out, by way of statement earlier, earlier this morning I called the prime minister to advise him that it was my judgement that the majority of the party room no longer supported his leadership. As such, I asked him to convene a meeting of the Liberal party at which I would challenge for the leadership of the parliamentary Liberal party. Thank you very much.
Peter Dutton has just released his own legal advice on his eligibility for parliament. It finds him eligible for parliament. In an accompanying statement, he says the campaign against his eligibility is “spurious and baseless”.
Over recent days a spurious and baseless campaign has been conducted against me in relation to an alleged breach of section 44 of the constitution.
The timing on the eve of current events in Australian politics is curious.
There has never been any doubt about my eligibility to sit in the Parliament and I attach the unequivocal legal advice I obtained in 2017 to that effect.
Earlier, he said he told the prime minister that he no longer supported his leadership and again called for a party room meeting.
A few minutes ago I spoke with Malcolm Turnbull to advise him I believed the majority of the party room no longer supported his leadership. Accordingly, I asked him to convene a party room meeting at which I would challenge for the leadership of the Parliamentary Liberal Party.
There have significant other developments in this moving feats this morning.
Kevin Hogan, a Nationals MP, has said he will move to the crossbench under a Dutton government. He would still guarantee supply and confidence to the Coalition, he said. That reduces the threat of an early election for Dutton.
Zed Seselja, a junior minister and Dutton backer, has insisted his resignation be accepted by Turnbull. The resignation has been accepted
Michael Sukkar, a key player in the rebellion and Dutton backer, has also insisted his resignation be accepted. The resignation has been accepted.
The PM has notified the Governor-General he has accepted the resignations of Michael Sukkar & Zed Seselja #auspol
Dutton has immediately hit back. Things are already moving at a cracking pace.
He has called a press conference. It is due imminently. We’ll bring you that as soon as it happens.
Guardian Australia understands the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and Peter Dutton, have spoken this morning.
The prime minister has told Dutton he needs to see evidence of the requisite number of signatures before calling a party room meeting, at which the leadership ballot would be held. Dutton has not provided such evidence.
Good morning, and welcome to another day of chaos in Canberra.
It’s Christopher Knaus here, ready to take you through what promises to be another day of heady leadership machinations.
Things are moving quickly already this morning.
We’re learning that Peter Dutton has spoken with the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to request another party room meeting.
“A few minutes ago I spoke with Malcolm Turnbull to advise him I believed the majority of the party room no longer supported his leadership,” he wrote on Twitter.
“Accordingly, I asked him to convene a party room meeting at which I would challenge for the leadership of the Parliamentary Liberal Party.”
After failing to force a second leadership spill last night, Peter Dutton’s camp is beating the drum already this morning. We’re learning that conservative Senator Zed Seselja - one of the group of MPs who tried to quit the front bench after the spill on Monday - is now urging the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to accept his resignation.
On the other side another Nationals member, this time New South Wales MP Kevin Hogan, has said he will sit on the crossbench if there is a leadership change.
Hogan has said he would still vote against motions of no confidence against the government and provide supply, but it sends a strong message. Here’s what happened yesterday:
Late on Wednesday evening backers of Peter Dutton began circulating a petition to force a party room meeting. The push was unsuccessful, and the number of signatures remain unclear. We do know that it exists, though, which is something. A party room meeting can either take place tomorrow or in the next sitting period in September. The Liberal MP Jane Prentice said she thought the petition had about nine signatures on it yesterday evening. Estimates on the numbers have varied wildly.
Earlier, Dutton outlined a policy manifesto as he pitched himself as an alternative leader. One of his policies was removing the GST from energy bills for families and pensioners. The idea was widely ridiculed as an unworkable “thought bubble” and “piecemeal”. The Treasurer Scott Morrison, who is digging in with Turnbull, said it would be a budget “blower”.
Dutton also confirmed he was still working the phones, trying to drum up enough support for a second tilt at the leadership.
James McGrath became the third frontbencher to resign from cabinet, following Dutton and Concetta Fierravanti-Wells. McGrath is a former Turnbull insider. His loss is significant. As I mentioned, he’s now joined by Seselja and the earlier resignation of Concetta Fierravanti-Wells.
Turnbull, meanwhile, tried desperately to keep his cabinet together and stare down the rebels. He appeared alongside the treasurer, Scott Morrison, and the finance minister, Mathias Cormann, two figures of authority within the Coalition, and said that those who had previously offered their resignations had since re-pledged their loyalty to him.
Amid all of this, questions about Dutton’s eligibility for parliament have continued to swirl. Labor went hard on the issue during question time, before Turnbull referred the matter to the solicitor general for consideration. Late on Wednesday, Labor released advice from Bret Walker, SC, suggesting Dutton was not eligible for election and therefore not eligible to sit in the current parliament.
Tony Abbott denied doing any deal to secure a cabinet position under a Dutton government.
The Coalition has dumped two policies, one of which was a key part of its agenda. The corporate tax cut bill was blocked in the Senate, and Turnbull said it would not be taken to the next election. The government also said it would stop trying to repeal the energy supplement, a payment to low-income welfare recipients to help with energy costs.