A majority of Coalition MP's endorse the National Energy Guarantee, setting the scene for a showdown with Labor.

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Malcolm Turnbull and his senior ministers agree to dump plans to legislate the emissions reduction target associated with the NEG, amid rising chatter about a challenge from Peter Dutton. The move addressed the principal demand of those threatening to cross the floor.

Turnbull postpones indefinitely plans to legislate the emissions reduction target for the NEG.

Fairfax Media-Ipsos poll shows the Coalition now trails Labor by 55pc to 45pc on a two-party-preferred basis.

Dutton’s first tilt at the Liberal leadership 9.00am Malcolm Turnbull moves to head off leadership ballot by declaring the position vacant. 9.30am Turnbull declared the victor, securing 48 votes to Peter Dutton's 35. 9.40am Dutton resigns from cabinet and moves to the backbench. 11:30am The PM’s office rules out going to an early election in an attempt to fend off another leadership challenge from Dutton. 3.30pm Malcolm Turnbull survives no confidence motion. 5.00pm Ministers start to offer their resignations from Cabinet. By 7.45pm, five of them have offered to quit. • ACT senator Zed Seselja • Minister for Law Enforcement and Cybersecurity Angus Taylor • Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, the Minister for International Development and The Pacific • Assistant Minister to the Treasurer Michael Sukkar • Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister senator James McGrath

9.00am Dutton starts making his case on policy as the PM's front bench is increasingly in doubt. 1.00pm Company tax cuts killed off, with Senators voting 36-30 to kill off the second tranche of the Government's plan to reduce the company tax rate to 25% for all businesses by 2026-27. Turnbull then dumps the policy. More frontbenchers offer their resignations: Steve Ciobo (Trade), Greg Hunt (Health), Alan Tudge (Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs), Michael Keenan (Human Services) 6.00pm Attorney-General Christian Porter confirms he’s seeking advice from the Solicitor-General about Dutton's eligibility. By 7.00pm, there were multiple reports of a petition being circulated among liberal MPs to bring on another leadership spill.

1.00pm Turnbull address the media. Key points from press conference: • He will convene a party room meeting at midday Friday • He won’t stand as a candidate if there is a majority vote for a spill • Is awaiting advice from solicitor-general regarding Dutton’s eligibility • Will leave Parliament if he is no longer PM

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has overtaken Gough Whitlam today to become Australia's 15th longest serving prime minister. 8.00am Turnbull accepts resignations of Sukkar and Seselja overnight. 8.10am Dutton releases legal advice he says shows he is eligible to sit in Parliament. 8.15am Peter Dutton fronts the media saying the prime minister has lost the support of his party. Turnbull rebuffs Dutton’s request for a party-room meeting. 9.40am Senior cabinet ministers senators Mathias Cormann, Mitch Fifield and Michaela Cash tell Turnbull he no longer has the support of the Liberal Party room and offer their resignations. 10.15am Labor tries to get Dutton referred to the High Court over concerns about his eligibility, but the motion is narrowly defeated 69 votes to 68. 10.41am Liberal sources have confirmed Treasurer Scott Morrison will run for the leadership in a bid to keep out Peter Dutton. 11.45am The government moves to adjourn Parliament, an unprecedented move. Labor leader Bill Shorten says there is no functioning government in Australia. 11.53am With the adjournment bells ringing, Leader of the House Christopher Pyne pleads with government MPs to go to the chamber to vote. Labor heckles frontbenchers who have resigned for sitting on the frontbench. Midday Pyne successfully shuts down the House of Representatives, Parliament adjourned to September 10. 12.15pm Senate still sitting, Labor’s Penny Wong excited to ask questions of Simon Birmingham for the entire government. Dutton’s exercise of ministerial power in a matter involving two au pairs referred to Senate committee.

Just before midday Solicitor General Dr Stephen Donaghue QC to release advice about whether Peter Dutton is in breach of section 44 of the Constitution. Midday Liberal party-room meeting

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has overtaken Gough Whitlam today to become Australia's 15th longest serving prime minister. 8.00am Turnbull accepts resignations of Sukkar and Seselja overnight. 8.10am Dutton releases legal advice he says shows he is eligible to sit in Parliament. 8.15am Peter Dutton fronts the media saying the prime minister has lost the support of his party. Turnbull rebuffs Dutton’s request for a party-room meeting. 9.40am Senior cabinet ministers senators Mathias Cormann, Mitch Fifield and Michaela Cash tell Turnbull he no longer has the support of the Liberal Party room and offer their resignations. 10.15am Labor tries to get Dutton referred to the High Court over concerns about his eligibility, but the motion is narrowly defeated 69 votes to 68. 10.41am Liberal sources have confirmed Treasurer Scott Morrison will run for the leadership in a bid to keep out Peter Dutton. 11.45am The government moves to adjourn Parliament, an unprecedented move. Labor leader Bill Shorten says there is no functioning government in Australia. 11.53am With the adjournment bells ringing, Leader of the House Christopher Pyne pleads with government MPs to go to the chamber to vote. Labor heckles frontbenchers who have resigned for sitting on the frontbench. Midday Pyne successfully shuts down the House of Representatives, Parliament adjourned to September 10. 12.15pm Senate still sitting, Labor’s Penny Wong excited to ask questions of Simon Birmingham for the entire government. Dutton’s exercise of ministerial power in a matter involving two au pairs referred to Senate committee.

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