Turnbull on top, Dutton resigns

MALCOLM Turnbull says Australians expect the Government to focus on them, not internal party issues.

Mr Turnbull won a Liberal leadership challenge from Peter Dutton 48 votes to 35 yesterday in Canberra.

“What they don’t like is being focused on ourselves or talking about each other,” the Prime Minister (pictured) said yesterday. “That is why it is very important that today the Liberal party room has confirmed our leadership of the party – a reminder for parties and governments to be united and determined to keep delivering for the people for whom they work.”

Mr Dutton has resigned from the Cabinet, leaving Mr Turnbull to consider a ministerial reshuffle.

Mr Turnbull thanked the minister for “outstanding” work as Home Affairs Minister, and invited Mr Dutton to remain in Cabinet.

“He said to me that he doesn’t feel he can remain in the Cabinet, having challenged me for the leadership of the party,” Mr Turnbull said.

Treasurer Scott Morrison will be acting Home Affairs Minister, with a ministry reshuffle to come.

Some Liberal MPs believe Mr Dutton’s failed challenge is only the beginning of the end of Mr Turnbull’s prime ministership, and there may be another leadership ballot later this week.

“What I say to all those who didn’t vote for the Prime Minister, we now have the opportunity to focus on what the electorate wants to hear from us,” Liberal deputy leader Julie Bishop said.

The Foreign Minister faced no challenger to her position yesterday. Mr Turnbull called the spill after a week of leadership speculation sparked by Liberals angry with his National Energy Guarantee.

The Prime Minister caved in to their demands to remove the Paris Agreement emissions reduction targets from the legislation, but it still wasn’t enough. After Mr Turnbull called the spill, Mr Dutton put his hand up to challenge.

Mr Turnbull won the vote, but the narrow victory leaves him vulnerable.

The Coalition has lagged Labor in 38 successive Newspolls, eight more than Tony Abbott’s record. However, Mr Turnbull has consistently rated higher than Bill Shorten as preferred prime minister.

Mr Shorten said Mr Turnbull had “looked into the abyss”.