Malcolm Turnbull is refusing to stand down as Prime Minister, announcing instead that he will not call a leadership spill without receiving a petition from the majority of the Liberal Partyroom. If he receives that petition, he said the spill will most likely take place at midday tomorrow, and that he will be stepping aside rather than contesting the vote.

PM Threatens Dutton Under S44

The Prime Minister also went nuclear on Peter Dutton by pointing out that Dutton will “have to establish that he is eligible to sit in the Parliament” if he wants to lead the party, referring to the news earlier this week that Dutton may in fact be ineligible to sit in Parliament under Section 44 of the Constitution, due to his ownership of a number of childcare practices.

“This issue of eligibility is critically important,” Turnbull said today. “You can imagine the consequences of having a Prime Minister whose actions and decisions are questionable because of the issue of eligibility.” He added that he’d like the party to see the solicitor-general’s legal advice on whether Dutton’s even eligible to be in Parliament before any spill happens, which may pose a big obstacle to Dutton’s chances. That advice is expected to drop tomorrow morning.

.@TurnbullMalcolm: This issue of eligibility is critically important. You can imagine the consequences of a Prime Minister whose actions and decisions are questionable because of their eligibility.

FULL COVERAGE: @Foxtel channel 103 & https://t.co/UFTF06werJ #auspol #libspill pic.twitter.com/Tp5bOrUxQ7

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) August 23, 2018

Turnbull’s decision to stand firm follows the news earlier today that both Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton intend to challenge for the Prime Ministership. By refusing to call a spill before receiving a petition from the majority of the party, Turnbull is forcing Liberal MPs to effectively put in writing that they have no confidence in his leadership, raising the stakes. If that majority does sign the petition, Turnbull’s decision to step aside means that the race for leadership will most likely come down to a battle between Dutton and Morrison.

PM Would Quit Parliament

Turnbull also confirmed that if he loses the leadership, he will resign from Parliament, which may put the government’s majority in doubt for whoever takes over from him. That would cause a crisis in which the government has no control over Parliament, and may be forced to an early election.

The three clear threats — forcing MPs to put their names to a petition, raising the Section 44 issue, and potentially causing a by-election — may be enough to push wavering MPs back into Turnbull’s camp, or, failing that, into Morrison’s.

.@TurnbullMalcolm: What we've witnessed is a very deliberate effort to pull the @LiberalAus Party further to the right. The only way to stop insurgency is to give in to it.

FULL COVERAGE: @Foxtel channel 103 & https://t.co/UFTF06werJ #auspol #libspill pic.twitter.com/zuBcj9Ak4I

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) August 23, 2018

Turnbull’s announcement came at 1pm today, shortly after the Liberal Party voted to adjourn the House of Representatives until September 10, essentially deciding to skip work until the leadership crisis is sorted. He acknowledged that “Australians will be rightly appalled by what they’re witnessing in this Parliament today,” and promised to keep us updated on the drama. He’s put the challenge to the Dutton and Morrison, and now we’ll have to wait and see what they do with it.