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Australia in crisis as prime minister faces down political coup attempt Australia in crisis as prime minister faces down political coup attempt
(about 1 hour later)
Australia is on the brink of having its sixth prime minister in a decade after a chaotic, internecine coup attempted, but failed, to topple the incumbent Malcolm Turnbull on Thursday.Australia is on the brink of having its sixth prime minister in a decade after a chaotic, internecine coup attempted, but failed, to topple the incumbent Malcolm Turnbull on Thursday.
In a media conference during which he refused to resign, Turnbull called on his challengers to prove he had lost the confidence of his own party, and made a thinly veiled swipe at influences “outside the parliament”.
The reference was widely interpreted as an attack on the power of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation newspapers and TV channels, which have consistently campaigned against him. “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,” Turnbull said.
The leadership brawl stalled political business on Thursday morning when the government voted to shut down the House of Representatives until 10 September, unsure it would be able to command a majority on the floor of the House, and unwilling to face questions from the opposition after at least 13 ministers tendered their resignations.
Since 2007, no Australian prime minister has served a full term in office, with four cut down by their own parties while in office, earning Canberra the title of “coup capital of the Pacific”.
Turnbull survived Thursday, but appears almost certain to lose the prime ministership to a party room vote, likely as soon as Friday.
At least two leadership contenders have emerged, both from the conservative right wing of the party: treasurer Scott Morrison, a social conservative from New South Wales, and home affairs minister Peter Dutton, the most recent and enthusiastic champion of Australia’s hardline immigration policies.
But the incumbent Turnbull – despite having lost nearly half his cabinet to resignation, and told explicitly by his most ardent backers he has lost the support of the party room – has refused to resign, and called the bluff of his challengers.
Having survived a leadership vote on Monday – but weakened and wounded by the 48-35 tally – Turnbull has demanded his challengers produce a letter signed by a majority of the party room declaring he has lost their confidence.
So far, this has not been produced. The challengers have until midday Friday.So far, this has not been produced. The challengers have until midday Friday.
Turnbull indicated were he deposed as prime minister he would leave the parliament, possibly immediately, which would mean any new leader would face an immediate byelection in Turnbull’s safe Sydney seat. Currently, the Liberal-National party Coalition holds just a one-vote majority in the House of Representatives.Turnbull indicated were he deposed as prime minister he would leave the parliament, possibly immediately, which would mean any new leader would face an immediate byelection in Turnbull’s safe Sydney seat. Currently, the Liberal-National party Coalition holds just a one-vote majority in the House of Representatives.
He said: “I believe former prime ministers are best out of the parliament ... if ... there is a new leader of the Liberal party, that person will have to obviously satisfy the governor general that they can command a majority on the floor.”He said: “I believe former prime ministers are best out of the parliament ... if ... there is a new leader of the Liberal party, that person will have to obviously satisfy the governor general that they can command a majority on the floor.”
Complicating matters is a constitutional cloud hanging over the putative frontrunner to replace him. Dutton may not be eligible to sit in parliament over his ownership via a trust of several childcare centres that receive government funds.Complicating matters is a constitutional cloud hanging over the putative frontrunner to replace him. Dutton may not be eligible to sit in parliament over his ownership via a trust of several childcare centres that receive government funds.
Section 44 of the Australian constitution prevents MPs holding any pecuniary interest with the commonwealth. The Australian solicitor general is providing advice to the government on Dutton’s eligibility by Friday morning. Several leading constitutional lawyers have said they believe he is ineligible, but Dutton has produced his own legal advice saying he does not fall foul of the provision.Section 44 of the Australian constitution prevents MPs holding any pecuniary interest with the commonwealth. The Australian solicitor general is providing advice to the government on Dutton’s eligibility by Friday morning. Several leading constitutional lawyers have said they believe he is ineligible, but Dutton has produced his own legal advice saying he does not fall foul of the provision.
Turnbull, a former merchant banker and lawyer – he shot to some fame in the UK in the 1980s defending former MI5 officer Peter Wright in the “Spycatcher” case – is a socially progressive “small l” liberal who supported same-sex marriage in a public plebiscite last year.Turnbull, a former merchant banker and lawyer – he shot to some fame in the UK in the 1980s defending former MI5 officer Peter Wright in the “Spycatcher” case – is a socially progressive “small l” liberal who supported same-sex marriage in a public plebiscite last year.
Derided by some members of his party as ‘Mr Harbourside Mansion’, he has never been a comfortable fit for the hardline conservative anti-immigration, right wing of his party.Derided by some members of his party as ‘Mr Harbourside Mansion’, he has never been a comfortable fit for the hardline conservative anti-immigration, right wing of his party.
He came to power following his own coup against former prime minister Tony Abbott, who has remained on the backbenches since, regularly criticising the policies of his successor.He came to power following his own coup against former prime minister Tony Abbott, who has remained on the backbenches since, regularly criticising the policies of his successor.
This week in parliament, sabotage devolved into open challenge within the Liberal party, with a series of leaks against the prime minister and sudden resignations by high-profile ministers.This week in parliament, sabotage devolved into open challenge within the Liberal party, with a series of leaks against the prime minister and sudden resignations by high-profile ministers.
Turnbull survived a leadership ballot on Monday morning, but his support bled away during the week, emboldening his challengers and inspiring Dutton to approach him, demanding another challenge.Turnbull survived a leadership ballot on Monday morning, but his support bled away during the week, emboldening his challengers and inspiring Dutton to approach him, demanding another challenge.
Morrison, currently the treasurer, was formerly the minister for immigration who implemented Australia’s hardline “stop the boats” policy, forcibly turning around asylum seeker boats at sea, and indefinitely detaining asylum seekers on remote offshore islands.Morrison, currently the treasurer, was formerly the minister for immigration who implemented Australia’s hardline “stop the boats” policy, forcibly turning around asylum seeker boats at sea, and indefinitely detaining asylum seekers on remote offshore islands.
Dutton is a former Queensland drug squad policeman, who has served on the Liberal party frontbench for 14 years. A leading conservative, he took over the immigration portfolio from Morrison, a position then far broadened into the newly established powerful home affairs portfolio.Dutton is a former Queensland drug squad policeman, who has served on the Liberal party frontbench for 14 years. A leading conservative, he took over the immigration portfolio from Morrison, a position then far broadened into the newly established powerful home affairs portfolio.
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