Embattled Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has narrowly survived a leadership challenge from within his own party as discontent with his rule boiled over less than a year before national elections.
Mr Turnbull, considered a moderate, declared his position vacant at a Liberal party meeting to force the issue after speculation that the more hardline Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton wanted his job, with the government consistently trailing the Labor opposition in opinion polls.
The disunity came to a head yesterday when Mr Turnbull was forced to shelve plans to embed carbon emissions targets in law after a revolt by fellow Liberal politicians.
Party whip Nola Marino told reporters Mr Dutton challenged but Mr Turnbull won 48-35.
"The result of that ballot was Mr Turnbull who was elected leader of the Liberal Party by a margin of 48-35, with Peter Dutton as the other candidate," she said.
There was also an election for deputy leader. The incumbent, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, was the only one who threw her hat in the ring and she held onto the role.
Asked what Mr Turnbull said after winning, Ms Marino replied the prime minister "thanked his colleagues for their support and will get on with the business now of governing in the interests of all Australians".
Mr Turnbull had declared he had Mr Dutton's "full support".
After losing Mr Dutton, a former police officer who ran a powerful department that oversees the country's domestic spy service, border force and national police, quit and moved to the backbench.
John Hewson, a former leader of the Liberal party who is now with the Australian National University's school of public policy, said Mr Turnbull was wounded and another challenge was likely within weeks.
"This was a trial run and I expect them (Dutton and supporters) to do it again in September," he told AFP, adding that it was all about "revenge and ego".
He pinpointed former prime minister Tony Abbott, who Mr Turnbull ousted in a 2015 party room coup, as a key player behind the move.
"Abbott wants to get even and Turnbull is now in the tightest of positions. He must stand up for his key polices in the national interest and get out there and argue the case.
"When he was elected people expected him to stand up for something, but all he has done with major policies is kick them down the road," he added.
