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Turnbull says he will call meeting after verifying petition with 43 signatures – politics live Coalition party room meets to decide leadership – politics live
(35 minutes later)
Right, we think most of the party room is in the meeting now. We’re now in the period of waiting for a result.
Who will be our next prime minister? Peter Dutton, Scott Morrison, or Julie Bishop?
The PM has left his office looking stunned, ashen faced. He received a round of applause as he walked past Parliament’s wishing well. #auspol #libspill
Malcolm Turnbull is walking to the party room with his close ally Craig Laundy. Laundy has stuck with Turnbull through and through.
Just a bit more on the optics. On the surface, it’s illustrative that the moderates in the Liberals are fractured. Bishop and Morrison walk in by themselves.
A crowd has started to gather in the members’ hall, the square hall at the centre of parliament, positioning themselves between Malcolm Turnbull’s office/bunker and the party room.
It’s mostly public servants although there are some staffers – and it has more of an air of morbid curiosity than a guard of honour.
Mathias Cormann and Peter Dutton have just walked past.
Peter Dutton is now approaching the party room meeting with his good friend and key player Mathias Cormann.
Scott Morrison is walking in by himself.
Julie Bishop is walking in by herself.
The optics are important here. But remember, we’re expecting this leadership contest to be close.
We’ve confirmed that meeting will take place at 12.20pm.
Sky News is reporting the party room meeting will take place at 12.20pm.
They’re also showing us close-up shots of microphones and explaining their function. So, yeah.
The wait continues. Anticipation palpable. We’re still in this process of verification. We’re also still waiting on a firm time for the party room meeting. Won’t be long now.
Some more interesting movements past the ministerial wing.
The Victorian Liberal president and party powerbroker Michael Kroger is walking through the ministerial wing.
He’s asked if this has become a farce. His response:
I don’t think so. It’s happened before, it’ll happen again.
Michael Kroger was asked if his party was a farce #Libspill pic.twitter.com/cDZ4xMb9tX
Some movement near the prime minister’s office, as we prepare to watch him leave his office.
Our correspondent in the ministerial wing, Gareth Hutchens, tells us:
They’re setting up some bollards and ropes to keep the media in a confined, safer, area before the PM and his entourage leave the ministerial wing for the party room. The security guards are being helpful. They realise it’s a momentous occasion.
Well, there you go people. You’ve heard it from our second-in-charge. There’s no embarassment for the government in this shambles. Reassuring. But hey, that’s what happens when crisis becomes the only constant in Australian politics.
Michael McCormack, National leader and deputy PM, was just asked if the government was behaving embarrassingly, he said "the only thing embarrassing is the way the media's carrying on." #libspill #auspol
There’s a bit of time now, while this petition is verified. Forty-three names are on there. Sit tight.There’s a bit of time now, while this petition is verified. Forty-three names are on there. Sit tight.
While we wait, consider this. These are Turnbull’s last moments in that office. When the party room meets and a leadership spill is called, he will step aside. He’s not running in the ballot and says he will quit parliament. He has said that before, mind you.While we wait, consider this. These are Turnbull’s last moments in that office. When the party room meets and a leadership spill is called, he will step aside. He’s not running in the ballot and says he will quit parliament. He has said that before, mind you.
So, what’s next for the Liberal party? The excellent David Marr analysed their prospects if they choose the Queensland option, Peter Dutton. His conclusion? It ain’t looking great.So, what’s next for the Liberal party? The excellent David Marr analysed their prospects if they choose the Queensland option, Peter Dutton. His conclusion? It ain’t looking great.
Marr:Marr:
The assumption that he’s a potent adversary of his party’s enemies in Queensland looks very shaky in the light of focus groups of undecided voters held in the last few days in his seat of Dickson.The assumption that he’s a potent adversary of his party’s enemies in Queensland looks very shaky in the light of focus groups of undecided voters held in the last few days in his seat of Dickson.
He’s no hero to them. They haven’t forgotten – as Canberra strangely has in the turmoil of the last few days – that Dutton made his reputation imprisoning women and children out in the islands. These voters want the boats stopped but they reckon their MP is heartless, cruel and not very bright.He’s no hero to them. They haven’t forgotten – as Canberra strangely has in the turmoil of the last few days – that Dutton made his reputation imprisoning women and children out in the islands. These voters want the boats stopped but they reckon their MP is heartless, cruel and not very bright.
Dickson is not a bleak outer suburb of Brisbane. It’s leafy and only a quarter of an hour from town. It’s mostly middle class. The notion that this is some uniquely Queensland electorate is rubbish. There are electorates like this across Australia. If Dutton can’t hold onto his – and his margin is only about 2% – then how is he, as prime minister, going to hold such electorates across the nation? Dickson is not a bleak outer suburb of Brisbane. It’s leafy and only a quarter of an hour from town. It’s mostly middle-class. The notion that this is some uniquely Queensland electorate is rubbish. There are electorates like this across Australia. If Dutton can’t hold on to his – and his margin is only about 2% – then how is he, as prime minister, going to hold such electorates across the nation?
Mood.Mood.
Turnbull is now verifying the names on the petition, which “should not take long”.Turnbull is now verifying the names on the petition, which “should not take long”.
Then the meeting will be called.Then the meeting will be called.
More time, more valuable time for Dutton’s opponents.More time, more valuable time for Dutton’s opponents.
I have just been provided with a request for a meeting of the Parliamentary Liberal Party. It has 43 signatures. As soon as they are verified by the Whips, which should not take long, the meeting will be called.I have just been provided with a request for a meeting of the Parliamentary Liberal Party. It has 43 signatures. As soon as they are verified by the Whips, which should not take long, the meeting will be called.
What’s going on?What’s going on?
Not entirely clear. But Dutton has walked the petition round to Turnbull’s office to try and force the issue – here is the petition, here are the signatures. There was some talk among MPs last night that given the claims of bullying there might be a process of verification of the signatures.Not entirely clear. But Dutton has walked the petition round to Turnbull’s office to try and force the issue – here is the petition, here are the signatures. There was some talk among MPs last night that given the claims of bullying there might be a process of verification of the signatures.
Not clear whether that’s the hold up here: whether Turnbull or Pyne or others are insisting that these names be checked.Not clear whether that’s the hold up here: whether Turnbull or Pyne or others are insisting that these names be checked.
The chief government whip, Nola Marino, has just left Turnbull’s office, our reporter Gareth Hutchens tells me.The chief government whip, Nola Marino, has just left Turnbull’s office, our reporter Gareth Hutchens tells me.
Julie Bishop has also just left.Julie Bishop has also just left.
Almost before I can take a breath, Dutton leaves Turnbull’s office.Almost before I can take a breath, Dutton leaves Turnbull’s office.
He can’t have been in there for more than a couple of minutes. Sounds very much like he walked in, showed the petition, and left.He can’t have been in there for more than a couple of minutes. Sounds very much like he walked in, showed the petition, and left.
Gareth Hutchens has just watched Peter Dutton walk into Malcolm Turnbull’s office, paper in hand.
Julie Bishop has walked in too.
Looks like this is it.
Independent MP for Indi, Cathy McGowan, has given a doorstop about how she is handling the Lib spill.
The long and the short of it is: my agreement is with Malcolm Turnbull and after that, all bets are off.
McGowan:
I’m not opting out of my decision and I’m not sitting on the fence. I’m in a very precarious situation. I had an agreement with the prime minister of Australia which we negotiated over a very long period of time, on policy, what needs to be done and what the needs of my electorate are and I hold to that agreement. I said I would support him - and I did that this week - in confidence motions and on supply. What the Liberal Party is doing in breaking their agreement with their leader is putting the crossbench and me in particular into a very awkward situation.
I’m not sitting on the fence, I’m waiting for them now to sort it out. My hope is Malcolm stays as prime minister for four or five months and we have an election. My agreement remains with Malcolm. If the Liberal Party changes their leader, they need to come speak with me with their policies, with their arrangements and they need to negotiate with me. As I’ve said to the people of Indi, I won’t be doing any deals I will not my sell my vote. I’ll look at policies, I’ll look at leadership credentials, the person, the team and then I will reach my decision.
We’ve heard throughout the week of some of the standover tactics used in this leadership spill. Politics is a bruising game, there’s no doubt. But the level of bullying and intimidation has prompted many, including the Liberal senator Linda Reynolds, to decry the current state of their party.
Former Liberal MP Fiona Scott has just appeared on Sky News. She says Liberal MPs have had their preselections threatened unless they switch to the Dutton camp. Extraordinary.
I’ve had a couple of people having their preselections challenged against them. In relation to comments even [Queensland Liberal MP] Gary Hargrave made not too long ago, where he’s saying well if Peter Dutton doesn’t get up, the civil war will continue, we will just keep marching through, that’s not uniting the party.
A couple of people that I’ve spoken to across the various camps hate that rhetoric. And at the end of the day they’re sitting there saying ‘well I’m going to lose my seat anyway, I’m just going to go with my heart’.
Our reporter Gareth Hutchens has just told us the government whip, Nola Marino, is back in the PM’s office, having just left his office. Trying times for live bloggers, let me tell you.
While the Morrison camp is sounding upbeat this morning, Dutton HQ is keeping calm, and carrying on. “We’re confident,” on key person told me a minute ago.
There are reports the petition has gone to the whip’s office. The whip’s office are not confirming that yet, but it’s a formality in any case. I can’t see this meeting not going ahead.
Our reporter Gareth Hutchens is down in the ministerial wing of Parliament House. He’s just told me the chief government whip, Nola Marino, just left the PM’s office. You’ll remember that Marino is responsible for organising this meeting and will receive the petition, when it’s ready with 43 signatures.
Let’s just stop for a moment, in this madness, to consider what is currently happening in Australian politics. We’re about an hour away from a party room meeting that will decide the next leader of our country. And one of the leading candidates is trying to prove he has been eligible to sit in parliament for the better part of a decade.
There are truly no words.
I’m just going to leave this link here. Click it if it all gets too much.
Peter Dutton has just issued a statement. He thinks the solicitor general’s advice puts him in the clear. Dutton says it puts to rest the “false, unsubstantiated and malicious” claims about his eligibility.
He also refers to his own advice, which he’s previously released.
Today I received advice from the solicitor general that in his view I am capable of sitting as a member of the House of Representatives.
This confirms the legal advice which I received from the former solicitor general David Bennett AC QC yesterday and the advice I received from Guy Reynolds SC on 4 December 2017 and 23 August 2018.
David Bennett AC QC, who served 10 years as commonwealth solicitor general, was recently successful in the high court in Re Canavan and provided advice to Malcolm Turnbull on the eligibility of Justine Keay, Susan Lamb and Rebekha Sharkie, later confirmed by the high court.
The consistent and strong advice which I have received puts to rest the false, unsubstantiated and malicious claims regarding my eligibility to sit as a member of parliament.
Labor is, as you’d imagine, less than convinced by the solicitor general’s advice about Dutton’s eligibility. Anthony Albanese says:
This guy thinks that’s an acceptable level of assurance that he even has a right to sit in the parliament, and he wants to be the prime minister of the nation. It’s extraordinary.
Down in the bunker, the feeling now is this is a two-horse race, and numbers are tight as a fish’s you-know-what. Peter Dutton and Scott Morrison are neck and neck according to people counting. Julie Bishop, according to these accounts, doesn’t have enough primary votes to survive the first ballot.
A senior government figure told me a couple of minutes ago that Morrison has pulled ahead, but this version of events is more declarative than other versions I’ve had in the last 10 minutes.
People in the Morrison camp are also saying the former communications minister Mitch Fifield (who resigned his cabinet position yesterday) has come across from Dutton. I don’t have primary confirmation from Fifield, I’m seeking that, but I’m told this by people I trust.
ALL information needs to be treated with caution over the next couple of hours, because powerbrokers sprinkle it out to journalists doing live coverage to try and influence the votes of the undecideds.
They play with the basic herd instinct of politics: the objective is to trigger stampedes of various types.
But as best I know, this is the current outlook.