Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull threatens to quit parliament if party doesn’t back him as battle for leadership deepens
Even if Peter Dutton is able to force a party meeting, he may still have to vie with Treasurer Scott Morrison and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop for leadership, according to local media reports
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was defiant on Thursday in the face of a new leadership challenge, refusing to “give in to bullies” and vowing to quit politics if he loses a leadership challenge.
“I have made it very clear that I believe former prime ministers are best out of the parliament,” he said on whether he would remain in politics if ousted.
Former home affairs minister Peter Dutton has demanded Turnbull call a Liberal party meeting to decide his fate, but the prime minister said he was still waiting for official notification that he had lost majority support. If he gets the petition, a party meeting will be held at midday on Friday and Turnbull will not stand as a candidate.
However, if it comes to that, Dutton may still have to vie with Treasurer Scott Morrison and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, according to local media reports.
The parliament shut down on Thursday while the party’s lawmakers grappled with the crisis.
Furious opposition lawmakers argued against the motion to adjourn the House of Representatives until September 10.