Australia | Ministers resign after leader survives challenge

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called on his government to unite behind him after he survived an internal leadership challenge yesterday. But several ministers who backed the failed challenger offered their resignations in a move that widens the rift in government ranks.

His challenger, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, resigned from the Cabinet after the vote but the amount of support he gained surprised many people. Turnbull ruled out any retribution against ministers suspected of supporting Dutton and said he had invited Dutton to remain in the senior security portfolio.

“I don’t bear any grudge against Peter Dutton for having stood up and challenged me today,” Turnbull said at a news conference with deputy party leader Julie Bishop, who retained her position unopposed in the ballot.

“We know that disunity undermines the ability of any government to get its job done and unity is absolutely critical,” Turnbull added.

But Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister James McGrath, Minister for International Development and the Pacific Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, and Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar confirmed within hours that they had offered their resignations after backing Dutton. AP