BREAKING | Scott Morrison Is Our New Prime Minister

BREAKING


Article heading image for BREAKING | Scott Morrison Is Our New Prime Minister

AAP

Australia, we have a new Prime Minister. 

Scott Morrison is Australia's next prime minister after defeating Peter Dutton in the race to replace Malcolm Turnbull.

The deputy leader of the Liberal party will be Josh Frydenberg, replacing Julie Bishop.

Mr Turnbull quit the job after he called for a spill of leadership positions in a Liberal partyroom meeting on Friday.

Mr Dutton, Mr Morrison and Ms Bishop contested a three-way contest to replace him, with Ms Bishop eliminated first after getting the lowest vote.

Mr Morrison defeated Mr Dutton in the next round by five votes, 45 to 40.

Mr Frydenberg received an "absolute majority", chief government whip Nola Marino told reporters after the 40 minute meeting.

No speeches were made by the candidates.

The original spill motion was carried 45 votes to 40, meaning almost half the partyroom wanted Mr Turnbull to stay in power.

It is unclear whether Mr Turnbull will retire from parliament immediately or stay on until the next general election.

An immediate retirement would trigger a by-election in the NSW seat of Wentworth.

The meeting had been expected to start at midday but was delayed while the 43 signatures on a petition calling for the meeting were verified.

by the candidates.

The original spill motion was carried 45 votes to 40, meaning almost half the partyroom wanted Mr Turnbull to stay in power.

It is unclear whether Mr Turnbull will retire from parliament immediately or stay on until the next general election.

An immediate retirement would trigger a by-election in the NSW seat of Wentworth.

The meeting had been expected to start at midday but was delayed while the 43 signatures on a petition calling for the meeting were verified.

 

 

 

 

Malcolm Turnbull called the meeting after  a petition - circulated by leadership challenger Peter Dutton - with the 43 signatures was handed over just before midday today.

 

 

 

A spill motion passed 45-40

 

 

 

The prime minister is set to quit the Sydney seat of Wentworth.

 

 

 

On Tuesday Turnbull spill was called and was challenged by Dutton. He was defeated 48-35.

 

 

 

Dutton resigned from cabinet and moved to the bank bench.

 

 

 

Turnbull was waiting for legal advice from the solicitor-general about Mr Dutton's eligibility to sit in parliament before calling the meeting.

 

 

 

Solicitor-General Stephen Donaghue QC found there was "some risk" the High Court would find Mr Dutton had a conflict of interest over federal payments to childcare centres owned by a family trust of which he is a beneficiary.

 

 

 

"However, while that risk cannot be entirely discounted, it would remain necessary for the court to identify an agreement in which Mr Dutton held that interest," Mr Donaghue said in legal advice released on Friday morning.

 

 

 

"I am unable to identify such an agreement."

 

 

 

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24 August 2018




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