9am
Tony Abbott speaks to the media in Adelaide, where he downplays leadership speculation as insider gossip.
“I’m just not going to chase all of these rabbits down all of the burrows that you are inviting me to go down. I’m just not going to play the Canberra games. Other people can play Canberra games. The public don’t like this insider gossip. The public don’t like the Canberra games, and as far as I’m concerned, I’m never going to play them,” Abbott says.
10am
As speculation ramps up, senior Coalition MPs are asked if they support Abbott as leader. The foreign minister, Julie Bishop, refuses to comment, as does Bronwyn Bishop, who was forced to resign last month following a number of expenses scandals. The assistant immigration minister, Michaelia Cash, refuses to name Abbott, saying only that she supports the leader.
2pm
Julie Bishop reportedly speaks to Abbott before question time begins, urging him to stand down. Labor hammers the Coalition with leadership questions.
“Can the PM nominate a single person silting behind him who thinks he is the best possible PM,” the opposition leader, Bill Shorten, asks.
The leader of the house, Christopher Pyne, pipes up: “I’m one!”
4pm
The communications minister, Malcolm Turnbull, calls a press conference to make a statement. He has resigned from his ministerial role to challenge for the leadership of the Liberal party.
He criticises Abbott’s economic credentials and his ability to deliver a message.
“The prime minister has not been capable of providing the economic leadership our nation needs,” he said. “We need advocacy, not slogans. We need to respect the intelligence of the Australian people.”
5:45pm
Radio silence emanates from government ranks, as MPs frantically crunch the numbers. The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, takes the opportunity to criticise the government and its legislative agenda at a press conference.
“Australians know that changing the leader of the Liberal party changes nothing,” he told reporters. “Australians know that Malcolm Turnbull is ambitious but he’s ambitious for himself, not our nation. With Malcolm, it will always be about Malcolm.”
6:15pm
Abbott calls a conference to make a brief statement. Commercial news networks break into the bulletin to broadcast it.
The prime minister is scathing of Turnbull.
“The prime ministership of this country is not a prize or a plaything to be demanded. It should be something which is earned by a vote of the Australian people,” he told reporters. “There will be a party room ballot for both the leadership and the deputy leadership positions later this evening. I will be a candidate and I expect to win.”
6:30pm
The prime minister’s press conference sparks flurry of media statements from his parliamentary supporters. First up, the treasurer, Joe Hockey. He hits back at Turnbull’s claims that the current leadership team is failing on the economy.
“The disloyalty of some has been outrageous,” Hockey said. We must put the national interest ahead of any self-interest. The PM has my absolute loyalty as I have his.”
7pm
Nationals leader, Warren Truss, is next up. He thanks the PM for his commitment to the bush, but warns that the Coalition deal was specific to Abbott.
“My Coalition agreement is with Tony Abbott. While the leadership is a choice for the Liberals, any change would require a new Coalition agreement and a new message of support to the governor general from me,” he told reporters.
7:30pm
Frontbench supporters of Abbott, including the government Senate leader, Eric Abetz, and the defence minister, Kevin Andrews, also make statements in the blue room. Other supporters, including whip Andrew Nikolic, and backbencher Cory Bernardi, take their message of support to the news networks.
All try to distance themselves from the “chaos and dysfunction” of the former Labor government.
7:45pm
Turnbull supporter and backbencher Arthur Sinodinos tells the ABC’s 730 program that a new leader is needed in order to rebuild trust with the public.
“We must not claim to break promises and make a virtue of it. That is not how you got and retain the trust of the people. We made very strong promises at the 2013 election, and that’s why people today do not trust us, and that’s why we need a change at the top,” he said.
Abbott dropped Sinodinos as assistant treasurer after questions were raised of him in New South Wales’ independent commission against corruption (Icac).
8pm
The social services minister, Scott Morrison, who was widely tipped to be treasurer in Turnbull-led government, confirms that he will be supporting Abbott, and won’t be standing for a leadership position.
9:15pm
Leadership spill motion begins.
9:50pm
Party whip Scott Buchholz addresses waiting media with the results of the spill motion. Turnbull wins the leadership ballot 54 votes to 44. Julie Bishop wins the ballot for deputy, 70 votes to 30.
10:40pm
The prime minister-designate Malcolm Turnbull and newly elected Liberal party deputy Julie Bishop give a press conference together. Turnbull said that ministers will serve in their existing ministries until the end of the week. A reshuffle meeting will happen in the morning.
Turnbull also said that his “assumption is that this parliament services the full term”, shooting down theories of an early election.
