Four Liberal frontbenchers – including two ministers – have offered the prime minister their resignations, following Peter Dutton’s failed leadership challenge.
Michael Sukkar was the first, stepping down from his office as the minister assisting the treasurer. That resignation was quickly followed by Senator James McGrath, Concetta Fierravanti-Wells and then up and coming Law Enforcement and Cyber Security Minister Angus Taylor.
Federal Minister for Law Enforcement and Cyber Security Angus Taylor has offered his resignation, following Peter Duttno’s challenge.
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Mr Sukkar’s office confirmed the resignation to SBS News earlier Tuesday evening, revealing via a statement he had voted for Mr Dutton during the leadership ballot.
“In light of today’s leadership ballot in which I voted for Peter Dutton, I have offered my resignation to the Prime Minister,” he said.
Assistant Minister to the Treasurer Michael Sukkar has handed in his resignation.
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“As a matter of integrity I felt compelled to do so.”
Less than an hour later, a second assistant minister resigned.
James McGrath’s office confirmed to SBS News the Queensland Liberal senator had followed Mr Dutton’s lead and offered his resignation, giving up his position as assistant minister to the prime minister.
His office confirmed the resignation was a matter of integrity after the senator supported Mr Dutton in the Tuesday morning vote.
Liberal Party Senator James McGrath has also quit.
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“I voted for Peter Dutton for Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party. As a matter of integrity, this afternoon I offered my resignation to the Prime Minister,” Senator McGrath posted on Facebook on Tuesday afternoon.
Senator McGrath was one of the key backers behind Mr Turnbull’s rolling of Tony Abbott in 2015.
Later in the evening, NSW Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells also handed in her resignation as Minister for International Development and the Pacific, issuing a statement that attacked Mr Turnbull for abandoning the party’s conservative base.
“Our conservative base strongly feel that their voice has been eroded,” she wrote to Mr Turnbull.
“They needed some demonstrable indication that there are conservative voices around your cabinet table.”
Senator Fierravanti-Wells said she pushed for Mr Dutton to replace Julie Bishop as deputy Liberal leader to improve stability.
The Law Enforcement and Cyber Security Minister Angus Taylor became the most senior Liberal to tender his resignation.
The up-and-coming conservative MP from Goulburn had been enjoying a steady rise in his political profile.
It is unclear if Mr Turnbull will accept any of his frontbenchers’ resignation.
If he does, it will necessitate a reshuffle of his ministry, something he wanted to avoid before the next election.
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells has quit the frontbench.
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Mr Dutton lost Tuesday’s leadership ballot with 35 votes to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s 48.
The former Home Affairs minister has resigned to sit on the backbench, but has not ruled out another challenge.
Mr Dutton would only need seven Liberals to switch their allegiance to succeed in a second ballot.
