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Pyne says Dutton better check those numbers

Cabinet Minister and Malcolm Turnbull backer Christopher Pyne has been speaking to RN Breakfast and confirmed Mr Turnbull does not intend to call a party room meeting at Peter Dutton's request.

"There was a party meeting on Tuesday in which the PM's leadership was reaffirmed 48 votes to 35.

"Much as I love Peter Dutton, just because he rings the PM and says 'I think I have got the numbers, you have to have a party meeting', that is not the way you run a government or a political party."

Mr Pyne says if Mr Dutton's backers think they have the numbers, they'd better have 43 — that's the number required to force an unscheduled party meeting if you're not the PM.


"The process is if an unscheduled party meeting is called by members other than the Prime Minister then it requires a majority of the party room to sign a petition asking for one. That requires 43 signatures.

"If the camp that is trying to change the leadership thinks it has the numbers, it should have the 43 signatures.


"The truth is we had a ballot on Tuesday, that clears the air."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-...-to-challenge-malcolm-turnbull-again/10155008