Malcolm Turnbull has challenged Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s leadership less than a week out from the Canning by-election.
Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop was believed to have visited Mr Abbott before today’s question time to tell him he should resign or call a leadership spill.
Following question time Mr Turnbull announced he had resigned from cabinet and asked Mr Abbott to facilitate a leadership ballot.
Mr Turnbull said while the challenge’s proximity to the by-election was undesirable he believed it would improve the party’s chances at the polls.
“There are few occasions that are entirely ideal for tough calls and tough decisions,” he said.
“The alternative if we were to wait and this issues, these problems were to roll on and on and on is we will get no clear air.
“The fact is we are maybe 10 months, 11 months away from the next election, every month lost is a month of lost opportunities.”
He said he was confident in Liberal candidate Andrew Hastie’s ability to win Saturday’s by-election.
“From a practical point of view will improve our prospects in Canning and I am very confident with the outstanding candidate that we have that we will be successful,” he said.
“This was motivated by a commitment to serve the Australian people, to ensure that our liberal values continue to be translated into good government, sound policies, economic confidence creating the jobs and prosperity of the future.
“The only way we can ensure that we remain a high wage, generous social welfare net, first world society is if we have outstanding economic leadership, if we have strong economic confidence.”
