SYDNEY, Aug 24, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Australia was readying for a new prime
minister Friday after a revolt against Malcolm Turnbull by hardline
conservatives in his Liberal party, with the former banker’s near three-year
reign all but over.
Former home affairs minister Peter Dutton, an ex-police officer and right-
winger, has been the driving force behind the move to unseat Turnbull after a
party backlash against his more moderate approach to politics.
Turnbull survived one attempt to knife him on Tuesday, winning a party
room vote 48-35, but since then ministers have been defecting.
Dutton needed to prove he had majority backing, or 43 signatures from
within the party’s parliamentary group — a requirement for him to force a
second crack at the top job ahead of national elections due by mid-2019.
Turnbull confirmed he had received a petition showing this support.
“I have just been provided with a request for a meeting of the
Parliamentary Liberal Party. It has 43 signatures,” he tweeted.
The party whip was personally phoning everyone on the list to make sure
they had signed, broadcaster ABC reported.
Turnbull said as soon as the names were confirmed, a meeting to decide the
leadership would be called.
The PM, who accused Dutton and his supporters of bullying and
intimidation, on Thursday said he would not contest again and would leave
parliament, although he did not set out a timetable.
His departure from politics would spark a by-election for his Sydney seat,
threatening the government’s one-seat parliamentary majority.
Despite Dutton getting the numbers for a challenge, there is no guarantee
he will assume the top job, with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Treasurer
Scott Morrison — both Turnbull allies — also in the running.
During a three-way vote, whoever comes last in the first round will be
eliminated with a second round taking place to decide who becomes leader.
Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne, a Turnbull ally, refused to say
who he would be backing and hit out at disruptive elements inside his party.
“I think some people should have considered the greater good of the people
of Australia, and the government, rather than their own self-interest and
ambition,” he said.
– Owe you an apology –
The unrest is the latest chapter in a turbulent decade for Australian
politics, with no leader managing to serve out a full term since former Prime
Minister John Howard lost the 2007 election. If a new prime minister takes
office Friday, it will be the seventh in 11 years in a remarkable revolving
door at Canberra’s parliament house.
Complicating matters, Dutton was referred to the solicitor-general over
his eligibility to sit in parliament due to family financial interests in
childcare centres that receive government subsidies — a possible breach of
constitutional rules.
The nation’s top lawyer Friday cleared him to continue in parliament.
If he succeeds in taking the top job, Dutton will push Australian politics
further to the right with a shift in several policies.
He has made clear already that he would slash the migrant intake to
counter population pressures and has not ruled out withdrawing Australia from
the Paris climate agreement.
The move to oust Turnbull was sparked by his plans on Monday to embed
carbon emissions targets in law.
Coupled with the government long trailing the opposition Labor party in
opinion polls, the move sparked a revolt that quickly spiralled into calls
for his head.
One minister was so disillusioned with the push to oust Turnbull that he
took to Twitter to apologise to the Australian people.
“Australia. We owe you an apology. I’m sorry. You deserve better than many
of the things our Federal Parliament has served up to you for the past 10
years,” wrote Nationals MP Darren Chester, whose party is in a coalition with
the Liberals.