MALCOLM Turnbull has declared he will challenge Tony Abbott for the leadership of the Liberal Party.
It is understood that it is Mr Turnbull’s intention to keep the government running full term if elected as leader. That means he will not call an election before August next year.
Senior sources told News Corp Australia that Mr Turnbull’s camp was confident they had the numbers to win the challenge against Mr Abbott.
“The numbers have grown significantly since February,” one MP said.
“Particularly from people on the right. There are big shifts in the ministry from the right.”
It is still uncertain if Mr Abbott will call on a party room meeting tonight or tomorrow morning.
“If he was smart he would probably call it tonight,” one MP said.
But Bill Shorten said if the Liberal party changed leader it would ultimately change nothing.
“Malcolm Turnbull, along with all of his Cabinet colleagues, have supported Tony Abbott and the Liberal Government with two bad budgets, presided over rising unemployment, the same unfairness, the cuts to pensions, the cuts to schools, the cuts to hospitals, the $100,000 degrees and the collapse of confidence in our economy,” Mr Shorten said.
He said Mr Turnbull had not changed from the man he was when he was removed from the Liberal leadership in 2009.
“Australians rejected Malcolm Turnbull when he was Opposition Leader because he was out of touch and he was arrogant and he hasn’t changed,” Mr Shorten said.
“Australia does not need another out of touch, arrogant, Liberal leader. Australia needs a change of government. And Labor will be up for the fight no matter who the Liberal Party select, we will stand up for a better, brighter future for all Australians.”
Another senior source told News Corp Australia that Julie Bishop’s intervention in going to visit Mr Abbott before question time was instrumental.
“This was not a frolic by Malcolm,” the source said.
“Julie (Bishop) decided that this matter needed to be brought to a head.”
Ms Bishop told the Prime Minister that he had lost the confidence of “at least half the cabinet and half the party”.
She called on him to resign or call on a ballot.
It is understood the Prime Minister “was not attracted to either option”.
Mr Turnbull made a statement shortly after 4pm.
“A little while ago I met with the Prime Minister and advised him I would be challenging him for the leadership of the Liberal Party,” Mr Turbull said.
“Of course I have also resigned as Communications Minister.”
Mr Turnbull said the decision was not taken lightly and had been taken after extensive discussion with his colleagues and the public.
“The Prime Minsiter has not been capable of providing the economic leadership the country needs,” Mr Turnbull said.
He said the country needed a “style of leadership that respects the public’s intelligence”.
“We need advocacy, not slogans.”
Mr Turnbull and Ms Bishop met with the Prime Minister and advised that they no longer have confidence in his leadership.
They asked Mr Abbott to hold a ballot for the Liberal leadership.
Mr Turnbull said if the Liberal party continued with Mr Abbott as Prime Minister, Labor leader Bill Shorten would win the next election.
“It is clear that the people have made up their mind about Mr Abbott’s leadership,” Mr Turnbull said.
He said the Liberal party had the right values for the country and the economy.
“What we have not succeeded in doing is translating those values and ideas to the Australian people that will make them believe we have a vision for the future.”
Mr Turnbull said traditional cabinet government needed to be restored.
“We need an open government that recognises that there is an enormous sum of wisdom in this building and further afield,” he said.
Mr Turnbull said the Canning by-election was important.