The leadership spill is happing. NOT A DRILL.
Malcolm Turnbull has met with the PM, resigned as Communications Minister, and asked for the leadership ballot.
#BREAKING MALCOLM TURNBULL HAS JUST MET WITH THE PRIME MINISTER TO REQUEST A BALLOT FOR THE PARTY LEADERSHIP @abcnews
— Anna Henderson (@annajhenderson) September 14, 2015
Turnbull has met the PM; requested a party ballot for the leadership.
— Sabra Lane (@SabraLane) September 14, 2015
Julie Bishop has ALSO asked for a leadership ballot.
#BREAKING: @JulieBishopMP has also met with the Prime Minister and asked for a ballot on the #leadership #auspol http://t.co/FlRWJAqVJo
— ABC News 24 (@ABCNews24) September 14, 2015
Turnbull will be addressing media at 4pm, buckle in, folks, there’s MORE TO COME.
BTW, if you’re just joining us now, everyone’s making a fuckload of funnies about the #libspill and here are the best of them.
#libspill pic.twitter.com/skSE21zFtg
— PEDESTRIAN.TV (@pedestriandaily) September 14, 2015
Updated at 4:07pm:
Says people have urged him to do this for some time…..
— Sabra Lane (@SabraLane) September 14, 2015
#understatementofthecentury
Updated at 4:11pm:
Turnbull has addressed media. Here are the best quotes:
“We need a style of leadership that respects the public’s intelligence.”
“We need advocacy, not slogans. We need to respect the intelligence of the Australian people.”
And now here’s as much as we could transcribe, ENJOY:
“This is not a decision that anyone could take lightly. I have consulted with many, many colleagues, many Australia, many of our supporters, in every walk of life, and this course of action has been urged on me by many people over a long time.”“The Prime Minister has not been capable of providing the economic leadership the country needs. We need a style of leadership that respects the public’s intelligence.”
“We need a style of leadership that explains those challenges and opportunities. A style of leadership that respects the people’s intelligence that explains these complex issues, then sets out the course of action we believe we should take. And then makes a case for it.”
“We need advocacy, not slogans. We need to respect the intelligence of the Australian people.”
“It is clear enough that the Government is not successful in providing the economic leadership that we need. It is not the fault of individual ministers. Ultimately, the Prime Minister has not been capable of providing the economic leadership our nation needs. He has not been capable of providing the economic confidence that business needs.”
.@TurnbullMalcolm: We need to restore traditional Cabinet Govt, there must be an end to policy on the run and captain’s calls #leadership
— ABC News 24 (@ABCNews24) September 14, 2015
“Let me say something about Canning. Now this i an important by-election. I recognise dealing with hits issue in the week before the by-election is not ideal, but regrettably there are few occasions that are entirely ideal for tough calls and tough decisions like this.”
“The fact is, we are 10 months, 11 months away from the next election. Every months is a lost opportunity. We have to make a change for the government’s sake, for the party’s sake, for the country’s sake.”
Updated at 4:13pm:
lol:
Turnbull has been practicing that speech since 2008
— Marc Fennell (@marcfennell) September 14, 2015
Updated at 4:16pm:
Turnbull supporters say they believe they have up to 65 votes in a leadership ballot. 51 needed. @theheraldsun
— Rob Harris (@rharris334) September 14, 2015
Updated at 4:20pm:
Turnbull says Bill Shorten is “unfit to lead”:
.@TurnbullMalcolm warns if Abbott continues as PM he’ll be succeeded by Bill Shorten. Turnbull labels Shorten “unfit” to lead” #libspill
— ABC News (@abcnews) September 14, 2015
Turnbull: “It is clear what will happen [if Tony Abbott remains Prime Minister]. Abbott will cease to be prime minster, and we will have Shorten.”
Updated at 4:27pm:
Turnbull: “We have lost 30 news polls in a row. It is clear the people have made up their mind about Abbott’s leadership.”
Updated at 4:32pm:
ENJOY THIS BLAST FROM THE PAST:
Updated at 4:33pm:
Oh my god just look at that smile:
Finally an adult has arrived “@mearesy: Malcolm Turnbull departs from his leadership challenge press conference pic.twitter.com/YDcTFLpRl7”
— Katherine Herriman (@NellieWindmill) September 14, 2015
Updated at 4:37pm:
Can we get this trending? #Netflixandspill.
netflix and spill
— Lara Jeffery (@LaraJeffery) September 14, 2015
Updated at 4:39pm
Just realised we should probably let y’all know that Turnbull is conferring with colleagues and such. Also this:
I was liberally enjoying a coffee and then it spilt #libspill pic.twitter.com/yURaq9KLyy
— Senator Ricky Muir (@Ricky_Muir) September 14, 2015
Updated at 4:43pm:
It’s expected that the vote will take place Tuesday morning:
Various sources suggesting vote on #LNP leadership will be tomorrow morning at normal party room meeting time. #auspol #LeadershipChallenge
— Lisa Wilkinson (@Lisa_Wilkinson) September 14, 2015
Updated at 5:31pm:
Tony Abbott will fight the challenge from Malcolm Turnbull. There will be a party room vote.
— David Speers (@David_Speers) September 14, 2015
“He is, without a doubt, the Kevin Rudd of the Liberal Party,” says Jeff Kennett of @TurnbullMalcolm. #libspill2 #libspill
— David Lewis (@dlewis89) September 14, 2015
Picture: Stefan Postles.
