A host of government frontbenchers have offered to step down after supporting Peter Dutton in Liberal leadership ballot. Here’s how some of the top ministers have sided.
Ten ministers have offered to resign in the wake of Tuesday’s Liberal leadership spill, but only two appear to be headed to the backbench.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has refused to accept the resignations of eight of his ministers as he desperately tries to heal the wounds in his party room.
Who’s resigned?
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton
The senior Cabinet member tendered his resignation after his failed leadership challenge on Tuesday. Mr Turnbull urged his challenger to stay on saying he “bears no grudges”, but ultimately accepted his resignation.
International Development Minister Concetta Fierravanti-Wells
The member of the outer-ministry wrote a scathing resignation letter, saying the party had moved too far away from conservative voters. Mr Turnbull accepted her resignation.
Who’s offered to resign?
Citizenship Minister Alan Tudge
Along with Mr Dutton, Mr Tudge is one of three ministers who oversees the powerful Home Affairs department. He offered his resignation but has reportedly agreed to stay on under Mr Turnbull for now.
Health Minister Greg Hunt
The Health Minister would reportedly have run for deputy liberal leader had Mr Dutton’s challenge been successful. His resignation offer has not been accepted.
Human Services Minister Michael Keenan
Mr Keenan offered his resignation, but later issued a short statement of support for the prime minister.
Trade Minister Steve Ciobo
The high-profile minister offered his resignation, which was not accepted. He later issued a call for unity to defeat Labor at the next election.
Cybersecurity Minister Angus Taylor
Mr Taylor is the third minister tied to Mr Dutton’s Home Affairs portfolio to offer his resignation. Mr Turnbull has not accepted his resignation.
Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar
Mr Sukkar’s resignation was not accepted by the prime minister, despite it reportedly being the first offered.
Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister James McGrath
Previously considered a Turnbull loyalist having reportedly helped canvas numbers for him in the 2015 leadership coup, Mr McGrath offered his resignation on Tuesday night. The prime minister did not accept it.
Assistant Science, Jobs and Innovation Minister Zed Seselja
The ACT Liberal Senator is well known as a conservative whose views align with former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, but his resignation was also not accepted.
Who’s definitely not resigning?
Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop
Malcolm Turnbull’s deputy leader said on Tuesday she would not be vacating her post. Despite polling higher than Mr Dutton in the polls, Ms Bishop told the ABC she was satisfied with her current role.
“I will do my very best to act out that role as deputy in support of the Coalition delivering good government for the Australian people,” she said.
Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne
Before and after the leadership spill, Mr Pyne put his hand up as a proud supporter of Mr Turnbull, calling the repeated changes at the top an “infectious disease”.
“It has to end, and it ended today when Malcolm Turnbull was re-elected by his colleagues,” he said after the vote.
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann
The finance minister, who was also the government’s leader in the Senate and chief negotiator with the crossbench, has been critical to shoring up Mr Turnbull’s leadership so far.
While he’s a friend of Mr Dutton he said he believed changing leaders would have a destabilising effect on government.
Treasurer Scott Morrison
The treasurer is standing by the PM, even fronting the media with Mr Turnbull on Wednesday.
“This is my leader and I’m ambitious for him,” he told reporters.
Only a few months ago, “ScoMo” was hosing down reports he was counting the numbers for a Peter Dutton leadership bid. SBS News
