Federal Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull has survived a leadership challenge from Liberal MP Kevin Andrews, winning a party room secret ballot 48 to 35.
Andrews launched a snap leadership challenge following Turnbull’s decision to support the Rudd Government’s carbon pollution reduction scheme.
“Malcolm Turnbull leads the Liberal party with a very strong vote of confidence,” Liberal party whip Alex Somlay declared after reading the announcement.
Kevin Andrews, who earlier claimed that many in the party were “palpably angry” with Turnbull’s handling of the emissions trading issue, said the vote highlighted the deep concern within the Liberal party about the introduction of the scheme.
“I believe this sends a very clear message to the Liberal Party that there has been deep concern over the way things have occurred over the past few weeks,” Andrews told reporters immediately after the vote.
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