This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2018/aug/23/turnbull-dutton-liberal-canberra-chaos-spill

The article has changed 25 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 9 Version 10
Turnbull digs in and demands Dutton show evidence of support – politics live Turnbull digs in and demands Dutton show evidence of support – politics live
(35 minutes later)
Question time kicks off in the Senate. This is embarrassing. Birmingham is listing the various portfolios that he, Scullion and Payne will take questions on. The lists are ludicrously long.
Labor laugh and yell from the opposition benches as Birmingham works his way through the portfolios.
The chaos continues over in the Senate. Senators were preparing to debate a bill on regional broadband. But the government appeared to have no idea who the relevant minister was. Instead of the name of its speaker, the Coalition simply wrote “minister”. Quality, stable government there.
You’ll remember that the former communications minister Mitch Fifield resigned earlier today.
We know now that Simon Birmingham will be the government’s leader in the Senate. Birmingham, Nigel Scullion and Marise Payne will take most of the questions on behalf of that slew of resigned frontbenchers we mentioned earlier.
Brace for full impact, guys. It’s going to be a heavy landing.
We’re all the crossbenchers today.
The crossbenchers this morning pic.twitter.com/2v4TuB4qLN
Turnbull’s appearance lifted the Aussie dollar slightly from a low of US 72.85c but it has since been bumping along at US72.9c.
The ASX200, meanwhile, is off a little bit more than earlier at 6,250 points, a drop of 0.25% today.
#AUDUSD cautiously higher after Australian PM Turnbull announced that he would not stand as a candidate in a leadership ballot and is waiting on legal advice re: frmr. Health Min. Dutton's eligibility pic.twitter.com/nM9IihxPJM
This may well be the last time I write this caption:PM Malcolm Turnbull at a press conference in Parliament House @knausc @murpharoo @GuardianAus #politicslive https://t.co/uyRiPluF5K pic.twitter.com/5tcdUxXaGe
Andrew Bolt, the late night Sky News commentator and keen promoter of the Anyone-But-Turnbull camp, had just had a hernia live on air.
He’s furious Turnbull is fighting back.
Firstly, he’s angry that Turnbull is demanding to see a petition with 43 names before he convenes a special party-room meeting tomorrow.
“He made up that rule. There is no such rule. Absolutely none,” Bolt says.
Secondly, he’s angry that Turnbull has asked the solicitor general to consider whether Peter Dutton is eligible to sit in parliament.
“Again, this is him trying to kill off Peter Dutton’s challenge. The only way that Peter Dutton goes to the high court is if there parliament refers him.”
Thirdly, he doesn’t like that Turnbull’s digging his heels so that Scott Morrison gets time to challenge Dutton properly with serious numbers.
“Malcolm Turnbull, the most leftwing leader of the Liberal party for, I don’t know when, is trying to stop the Liberal party from returning to its roots.
“It’s an utterly, utterly selfish and narcissistic move. His leadership is completely destroyed and he doesn’t care. He is staying on for as long as he can until he can nominate his preferred successor.
“I think it is a disaster. I have never seen such a selfish, damaging, suicidal kind of move from a man who’s only focus since the day he become prime minister was on himself.”
Bolt then reminded viewers that he wasn’t a member of the Liberal party.
The time could prove crucial. It does two things:The time could prove crucial. It does two things:
it gives Scott Morrison more time to build support for a tilt at the leadershipit gives Scott Morrison more time to build support for a tilt at the leadership
it gives more time for concerns about Dutton’s eligibility to foment within the Coalition, including by allowing the solicitor-general to deliver his advice before tomorrow’s party room meeting. it gives more time for concerns about Dutton’s eligibility to foment within the Coalition, including by allowing the solicitor general to deliver his advice before tomorrow’s party room meeting.
Oh, and it also gives Labor more time to do stuff like this:Oh, and it also gives Labor more time to do stuff like this:
The Liberals have shut down the Parliament and given up on governing Australia.My united and stable Labor team are ready to govern. We are 100% focused on delivering a fair go for all Australians. pic.twitter.com/LGAzui01fqThe Liberals have shut down the Parliament and given up on governing Australia.My united and stable Labor team are ready to govern. We are 100% focused on delivering a fair go for all Australians. pic.twitter.com/LGAzui01fq
Let’s put some context around what we’ve just learned. It’s shocking, really.Let’s put some context around what we’ve just learned. It’s shocking, really.
Malcolm Turnbull has effectively just booby-trapped the prime minister’s office for Dutton. Turnbull has shown some fight. “I’ve never given in to bullies,” he says.Malcolm Turnbull has effectively just booby-trapped the prime minister’s office for Dutton. Turnbull has shown some fight. “I’ve never given in to bullies,” he says.
And indeed he is not.And indeed he is not.
Here’s why: Turnbull has suggested he will walk from parliament if he loses the leadership.Here’s why: Turnbull has suggested he will walk from parliament if he loses the leadership.
That would trigger a byelection. A byelection could rob Peter Dutton of the ability to command a majority in parliament.That would trigger a byelection. A byelection could rob Peter Dutton of the ability to command a majority in parliament.
At the same time, he’s put serious doubt on Dutton’s ability to lead a stable government or sit as an eligible parliamentarian.At the same time, he’s put serious doubt on Dutton’s ability to lead a stable government or sit as an eligible parliamentarian.
Truly remarkable.Truly remarkable.
PM Turnbull: “I’ve never given in to bullies” pic.twitter.com/Z6ToY6C9gNPM Turnbull: “I’ve never given in to bullies” pic.twitter.com/Z6ToY6C9gN
So, Turnbull is seeking to buy time. He is asking for the party room meeting to take place tomorrow, at midday.So, Turnbull is seeking to buy time. He is asking for the party room meeting to take place tomorrow, at midday.
The press conference was also used to highlight the serious doubts over Dutton’s eligibility. He wants the party to see the solicitor general’s legal advice before the spill.The press conference was also used to highlight the serious doubts over Dutton’s eligibility. He wants the party to see the solicitor general’s legal advice before the spill.
This issue of eligibility is critically important. You can imagine the consequences of having a prime minister whose actions and decisions are questionable because of the issue of eligibility.This issue of eligibility is critically important. You can imagine the consequences of having a prime minister whose actions and decisions are questionable because of the issue of eligibility.
Malcolm Turnbull says we are witnessing a very deliberate effort to haul the Liberal Party to the right. #auspol pic.twitter.com/e49J4rH9IxMalcolm Turnbull says we are witnessing a very deliberate effort to haul the Liberal Party to the right. #auspol pic.twitter.com/e49J4rH9Ix
Our political editor, Katharine Murphy, asks Turnbull who he means when he describes the bullies within the party.Our political editor, Katharine Murphy, asks Turnbull who he means when he describes the bullies within the party.
He won’t name names. But he says the party is being dragged to the right. He also says the challenge began with a minority, and was built up through bullying and intimidation.He won’t name names. But he says the party is being dragged to the right. He also says the challenge began with a minority, and was built up through bullying and intimidation.
Again, I’m not going to go into names or anything remotely approaching recrimination or anything of that kind. I mean, politics is a tough business. You have got to judge the political actions by their outcomes.Again, I’m not going to go into names or anything remotely approaching recrimination or anything of that kind. I mean, politics is a tough business. You have got to judge the political actions by their outcomes.
I think what we’re witnessing, what we have witnessed at the moment is a very deliberate effort to pull the Liberal party further to the right. And that is a, that’s been stated by the number of people who have been involved in this.I think what we’re witnessing, what we have witnessed at the moment is a very deliberate effort to pull the Liberal party further to the right. And that is a, that’s been stated by the number of people who have been involved in this.
#BREAKING PM not standing down. Says Dutton wanted the House adjourned. He’s waiting for the petition from members for a party room meeting. If he gets it, he’ll call a meeting of the party room midday tomorrow. And he wants SG advice on Dutton before then #auspol @politicsabc pic.twitter.com/JnDLo4irRc#BREAKING PM not standing down. Says Dutton wanted the House adjourned. He’s waiting for the petition from members for a party room meeting. If he gets it, he’ll call a meeting of the party room midday tomorrow. And he wants SG advice on Dutton before then #auspol @politicsabc pic.twitter.com/JnDLo4irRc
Turnbull suggests he will leave parliament, should he lose the leadership.
I made it very clear that I believe former prime ministers are best out of the Parliament
Turnbull is laying this entire leadership crisis at the feet of a “minority” within the party. He likens it to “a form of madness”. How did we get to this point, he asks.
The reality is that a minority in the party room supported by others outside the Parliament have sought to bully, intimidate others into making this change of leadership that they’re seeking. It’s been described by many people, including those who feel they cannot resist it as a form of madness, and it is remarkable we’re at this point where only a month ago we were being, as you all know being avid readers of polls, just little bit behind Labor and in our own polls a little bit ahead, but in any view thoroughly competitive.
Turnbull says if a leadership spill is called, he will not stand.
In terms of my own intentions, when the party room meeting is called, I will invite a spill motion to be moved. If the motion is carried, I will treat that as a vote of no confidence and I will not stand as a candidate in the ballot.
Malcolm Turnbull materialises. He looks worse for wear. But he is still seeking to prolong his leadership. He says he is still waiting to see the petition calling for a party room meeting with a majority of the party’s signatures on it.
The party room, of course, met on Tuesday and confirmed my leadership by a majority. So we need to see that there is a majority of members and they need to put their names to it too. These are momentous times and it’s important that people are accountable for what they’re doing.
He concedes Australians will be horrified to see what is happening in their parliament.
Now, Australians will be rightly appalled by what they’re witnessing in their nation’s Parliament today and in the course of this week.
There’s still another five minutes until we hear from Turnbull.
That gives us some time to delve into Peter Dutton’s history. Who is the man likely to be our next prime minister? How did he rise through the ranks of the Liberal party? What are his views on migration? Has he smiled before Tuesday? Is he even eligible for parliament? And what on earth is going on with those au pairs?
This video will answer all of your questions. And there’s gaffes!!
Peta Credlin, Tony Abbott’s former chief of staff, is giving Sky News her interpretation of Malcolm Turnbull’s failings.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, she says Turnbull should never have left Abbott out of cabinet.
Meanwhile, spare a thought for Peter Dutton. No, not that Dutton. The other Dutton. This bloke:
I wish the people of Australia would look at my profile and realize I’m a 30 yr old black man before sending me tweets and DMs. https://t.co/vzTF8JeMlZ
Malcolm Turnbull will speak in 20 minutes time.
We’ll learn, we expect, whether he will contest this leadership ballot.
Mike Bowers doing wonderful work, as always
This scene is one of many that will be remembered on - it must be said - a sorry day in Australian politics.
The opposition wave goodbye to the government after the house was adjourned early so the government can attend a party meeting-parliamentary attendants clean the chamber @knausc @murpharoo @GuardianAus #politicslive pic.twitter.com/ow7vcm0j1K
The Senate is still sitting, don’t forget. But the government front bench is now so sparse we’re all wondering what on earth is going to happen. Four ministers and two assistant ministers who sit in the Senate have resigned. But they still have to front up for Senate question time at 2pm.
Labor sources think the only ministers left to answer questions are Simon Birmingham, Marise Payne, Bridget McKenzie and Nigel Scullion.
Scullion, the Indigenous affairs minister, might even end up as the government’s leader in the Senate.
Oh, and this:
Pauline Hanson is sitting on the govenment frontbench in the Senate.Just in case you needed further proof that Parliament is in utter chaos. pic.twitter.com/YvCMwsRdIg
Our video producer, Becca Leaver, has put together this fantastic history of the (mostly recent) obsession our governments seem to have with tearing themselves apart. Have a watch.
Scott Morrison, Christopher Pyne and Nola Marino have just left the prime minister’s office, our reporter Gareth Hutchens tells us.
Important movements ahead of the party room showdown. Morrison is being positioned as a challenger. Pyne is key in the Turnbull camp. Marino is the chief government whip, and is responsible for planning the meeting.