The Constitution says that the governor-general can only act to fill a vacancy in the prime ministership if there is one - but in this case, some complex questions would have arisen.
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Articles on Liberal leadership spill
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With John Howard in 2004-7 the last prime minister to serve a full term, it may seem Australia has sunk into a long rein of political instability. But that is not necessarily the case.
Media moguls’ alleged involvement in bringing an end to Malcolm Turnbull’s prime ministership raises serious questions about their influence, and media accountability.
In announcing she would not contest the next election, the member for the highly-marginal Chisholm has cited bullying and intimidation for provoking her decision.
Australians have never liked sitting PMs being deposed by their own parties - but the outrage over Malcolm Turnbull’s destruction is the greatest in modern history.
Before he died, Malcolm Fraser was working on a manifesto for a new political party with centrist ideals – realising that the Liberal Party had lost touch with the people it asks to elect it.
Their longest serving leader built the modern Liberal Party after its predecessor collapsed in 1941– but it took him eight years and defeat in two elections.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has unveiled his ministry, rewarding his supporters who also making room for some Peter Dutton supporters - with the exception of Tony Abbott.
New prime minister Scott Morrison now faces the huge task of reuniting the party and devising policy positions that can satisfy the liberals and conservatives within.
The National Party has the opportunity to use its role within the Coalition to exercise its influence on behalf of rural Australia.
Morrison would be mistaken if he believed his party’s salvation lay in a further lurch to the right in pursuit of an ill-defined “base”
Analysis of the polls shows the deposing of Malcolm Turnbull made absolutely no electoral sense.
The new deputy is the Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg, 47, from Victoria, who won overwhelmingly, from fellow Victorian Greg Hunt and Queenslander Steve Ciobo.
Morrison has proved to be conservative on social policy, but wedded to a neo-liberal economic agenda.
Turnbull brought a Menzian style to his leadership, but the world has changed quite a bit since Robert Menzies.
The Solicitor-General finds Dutton to be “not incapable” of sitting in parliament after questions were raised about his eligibility through section 44 of the Constitution.
Our revolving door prime ministers are the result of the politicians being too responsive to what we think, and there being too few of them.
Whether we end up with Prime Minister Turnbull, Dutton, Morrison or Bishop – it will not be sweetness and light among those who find themselves at the “out-group” when the dust begins to settle.
The Liberals who want to tear down Malcolm Turnbull claim they are in a battle for the heart and soul of the party - but where is this heart and soul, and how strong is it?
Malcolm Turnbull’s prime ministership appears over, with senior ministers deserting him in favour of challenger Peter Dutton.
Top contributors
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Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
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Senior Project Manager, Murdoch University
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Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne
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PhD Candidate, The University of Western Australia
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Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Deakin University
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Senior Lecturer in Australian Politics, Monash University
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Professor emerita, University of Sydney
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Professor, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong
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Honorary Professorial Fellow, Melbourne CSHE, The University of Melbourne
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Associate Professor, Politics and Public Policy, Flinders University
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Professor of History, ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, Australian National University
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Tony Walker is a Friend of The Conversation.
Vice-Chancellor's Fellow, La Trobe University
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Professor, School of Politics Economics & Society, Faculty of Business Government & Law, University of Canberra
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Professor of Journalism, Media and Communication, Queensland University of Technology
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Professor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Deputy Dean Research at Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, The University of Melbourne
