WHAT’S NEXT

WHAT’S NEXT FOR LIBERAL LEADERSHIP AND PM JOB?

A party room meeting will be called for today at noon if Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull receives a letter with 43 Liberal MP signatures asking him to do so.

Before that Mr Turnbull expects to receive legal advice over leadership rival Peter Dutton’s eligibility to sit in parliament.

If it fails to clear Mr Dutton over a possible breach of Section 44 of the Constitution, the meeting will not go ahead and it is likely he would be referred to the High Court by the parliament when it next sits. In that case, Mr Turnbull would remain leader and Prime Minister.

If Mr Dutton is not found to potentially be in breach of the Constitution, it would clear the way for the Liberal party room meeting.

Treasurer Scott Morrison and deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop are canvassing support to run against Peter Dutton.

Under party rules, the person with the fewest votes in a three-way race is knocked out, then it becomes a twocandidate vote. The winner of the Liberal party room ballot will become parliamentary party leader.

Mr Turnbull would then tender his resignation to the Governor-General and resign from parliament.

The new Liberal leader would be recommended to the Governor-General to become Australia’s 30th prime minister.

In parliament, which does not sit again until September 10, Labor could move a “no-confidence” motion to test the Government’s majority. The LiberalNational Coalition has a one-seat majority but some Nationals MPs have pledged to sit on the crossbench if the prime minister changes. The Government already has budget “supply” until July 2019.

The Governor-General would issue the instrument of appointment and oath of office to the new prime minister, and most likely swear in a handful of key Cabinet ministers.

If Mr Turnbull resigns immediately, a by-election will be needed in the NSW seat of Wentworth. A half-Senate and full Lower House election is due by May 18, 2019.