Australian PM offers possible 2nd leadership vote as senior ministers resign

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Thursday that he would hold a second leadership vote on Friday only if he receives a letter signed by a majority of the ruling party, Reuters reports. Former home affairs minister Peter Dutton narrowly lost a challenge against Turnbull on Tuesday and has declared that he would again contest a Liberal Party leadership vote. The treasurer and foreign minister will also be candidates if a vote is called, according to media reports. Key Turnbull supporter, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, said Turnbull no longer had majority party support and that Dutton was now the best person to lead the conservative government to the next election, which is due by May 2019. Several ministers have tendered their resignations. The leadership crisis saw the government adjourn parliament on Thursday until September.