SYDNEY: Embattled Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull narrowly survived a leadership challenge from within his own party on Tuesday as discontent with his rule boiled over less than a year before national elections.

Turnbull, considered a moderate, declared his position vacant at a Liberal party meeting to force the issue after rampant speculation that the more hard-line 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 on Monday when 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 Dutton challenged but Turnbull won 48-35.

“The result of that ballot was Malcolm Turnbull was elected leader of the Liberal Party by a margin of 48-35, with Peter Dutton as the other candidate,” she said.

On Monday Turnbull had declared he had Dutton’s “full support”.

After losing, 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 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 said, adding that it was all about “revenge and ego”.

He pinpointed former prime minister Tony Abbott, who 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.

It is the latest chapter in a turbulent period for Australian politics.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2018