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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
(35 minutes 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 its sixth prime minister in a decade after the incumbent Malcolm Turnbull promised to hold a meeting of the Liberal party on Friday to see if he still commands the support of a majority of his MPs.
So far, this has not been produced. The challengers have until midday Friday. On another chaotic day in Canberra, three more senior frontbenchers resigned and the government suspended parliament in an attempt to solve the crisis. Australians would be “rightly appalled by what they are witnessing in their nation’s parliament today,” Turnbull told reporters.
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 has endured simmering discontent with his leadership in recent months, fuelled by by poor opinion polls, byelection losses, and general mistrust among those on the right of the Liberal party.
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.” His attempts to pacify the right by abandoning plans to put emissions targets on the statute book failed, and on Tuesday he narrowly survived a leadership challenge form this hardline home affairs minister Peter Dutton.
Complicating matters is a constitutional cloud hanging over the putative frontrunner to replace him. Peter Dutton may not be eligible to sit in parliament over his ownership via a trust of several childcare centres that receive government funds. Turnbull indicated on Thursday that 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.
“I believe former prime ministers are best out of the parliament,” he said. “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 the 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’s 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. If Turnbull goes, Dutton could face Treasurer Scott Morrison. Morrison 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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