Geopolitics
Governance/Geopolitics
Australian cabinet, PM Turnbull plagued by mass resignation

Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 22 Aug 2018, 06:35 am Print

Australian cabinet, PM Turnbull plagued by mass resignation

Canberra: A day after surviving a leadership challenge by a narrow margin, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's discomforts have have grown many folds by a series of mass resignation from his colleagues.

Unhappy with their failure to oust him as their party's leader, as many as 10 minister have resigned from their post. However, the Australian Prime Minister has accepted only two, including that of the challenger, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton.

The latest development has thrown Australian politics in a state of disarray.

Dutton, however, said that he can challenge Turnbull again for the leadership role.

"You do not go into a ballot believing that you can lose and if I believe that a majority of colleagues support me then I would consider my position," he told radio station 3AW.

Turnbull, an otherwise popular leader, has witness a decline in his popularity, following a defeat in a recently concluded by-election in Queensland.

His leadership has come under the scanner as a number of colleagues have questioned his viability in holding the position.

Last week, Turnbull announced that his government was ditching a key climate policy, citing lack of support from his colleagues.

The significant U-turn turn comes after a revolt from conservative MPs within the Australian cabinet.

"The original commitment would have set in legislation Australia's pledge for a 26 per cent cut in emissions, based on 2005 levels, by 2030," said a BBC report.


Image: Screengrab from YouTube