Turnbull may resign in feud he says will ‘appal Australians’

MALCOLM TURNBULL, Australia’s prime minister, signalled he could resign today following bitter infighting that has split the ruling Liberal party and left the nation facing yet another leadership change.

As the party’s brutal civil war continued and 13 ministers resigned, Mr Turnbull, a former investment banker and self-made millionaire, said he would resign if a majority of Liberal MPS demanded another leadership vote.

Last night Mr Turnbull’s opponents were one signature away from securing the vote, which they hoped would take place at midday (3am GMT).

The new vote follows a challenge by Peter Dutton, a hardliner who lost in a 48-35 secret ballot of MPS on Tuesday.

Stubbornly refusing to resign yesterday despite a collapse of support, Mr Turnbull blamed a group of rebel Rightwing MPS and some media commentators for encouraging this week’s putsch.

“Australians will be rightly appalled by what they’re witnessing in their nation’s parliament today and in the course of this week,” he said.

“The reality is that a minority in the party room, supported by others outside the parliament, have sought to bully, intimidate others into making this change of leadership that they’re seeking. It’s been described by many people … as a form of madness.” Mr Dutton, a former policeman who has signalled a tougher approach on immigration and law and order, was expected to battle for the leadership against two more moderate candidates: Julie Bishop, the foreign minister, and Scott Morrison, the treasurer.

Opinion polls show Ms Bishop is the most publicly popular of the three possible leadership contenders, followed by Mr Morrison. Support for Mr Dutton was between three and 11 per cent.

In extraordinary scenes in Canberra yesterday, the ruling Liberal-national coalition adjourned parliament’s lower house to try to resolve its leadership chaos. Bill Shorten, the Labor leader, told the chamber: “Australia no longer has a functioning government”.

Mr Turnbull’s downfall follows a long run of dismal opinion polls as well as enduring concerns among the party’s Right-wing MPS that he is too progressive.

Mr Turnbull said he will not stay on as an MP following a ballot, a move that could deprive the coalition of its oneseat parliamentary majority. This may result in an early general election.

♦ The Queen has sent a message of condolence to those affected by the worst Australian droughts in living memory. She said she and the Duke of Edinburgh were “deeply saddened” to hear of the extreme weather in New South Wales and other eastern parts of the country.