by Joshua Wells
UPDATE: Five frontbenchers have resigned in the last 15 minutes.
Minister for Trade Steven Ciobo, Minister for Health Services Michael Keenan, Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge, Minister for Health Greg Hunt, and Minister for Law Enforcement Angus Taylor have all formally resigned from Turnbull’s cabinet.
EARLIER: Treasurer Scott Morrison will reportedly contest for the Liberal party leadership against Peter Dutton.
It is unclear at this stage whether Malcolm Turnbull will step aside or continue to contest.
EARLIER: Malcolm Turnbull has defeated Peter Dutton following a leadership challenge in Canberra.
The Prime Minister applied the pressure to the party room after rumours of the challenge began recently.
Turnbull won the vote 48-35 with more than a third of the party room going with the challenger.
EARLIER: The Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull, vacated his position as Liberal party leader at 9.18am this morning.
The move prompted Peter Dutton MP to contest for the leadership in another challenge.
It was a ‘put up or shut up’ moment for the party in Canberra with all leadership positions vacant for the time being.
More to come.
