The leadership crisis within the Liberal Party continues, with 13 resignations so far from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s frontbench.
The turbulence following Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton's challenge, which fell just seven votes short, has led Treasurer Scott Morrison to step up as an alternative to Mr Dutton in case of a second challenge.
But many voters on the streets are showing frustration at what they see as the shambolic state of Australia's federal politics.
Malcolm Turnbull and Peter Dutton following a vote over the Liberal challenger's eligibility. (AAP) Source: AAP
The political future of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull continues to worsen, with senior Liberal figures Mathias Cormann, Mitch Fifield and Michaelia Cash among the latest to withdraw their support for him.
But the Prime Minister is holding firm and says, if challenger Peter Dutton truly has the support of a majority of the party's MPs, he wants to see a signed letter showing it.
"When there has been internal insurrection, you know, of the kind we've seen at its extreme form in the course of the last week or so, when there have been distractions, our numbers go down. The public hates what is going on at the moment. They want everyone here to be focused on them. I have done everything I can to keep the Liberal Party and, indeed, the Coalition united," said Prime Minister Turnbull.
Mr Turnbull said he did not want to get emotional about what was happening, but, for many Australians, the topic is triggering plenty of emotion.
Some voters on the streets of Melbourne, like this woman, expressed annoyance at Mr Dutton's characterisation of parts of the city as unsafe because of what he termed "African gangs."
election day on September 7, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. Voters head to the polls to elect the 44th parliament of Australia. Source: AAP
"All the interference in the local down politics here, I find that appalling. You know, we don't have a real problem with Sudanese gangs. I feel perfectly safe walking around Melbourne. And I don't like what he says about the refugees, I don't like his attitude, I don't like the way there's still children being detained (in offshore detention)."
This man expressed hope, though, that Mr Dutton could bring change.
"I quite like Dutton. I think Dutton's a good man. Turnbull's been a bit of a disappointment, really. He's promised the world and didn't do a lot, really."
Others were simply confused.
"I don't actually know much about Peter Dutton at all. He's just come out of nowhere fairly recently."
But the most common feedback is a chorus of frustration, like this man's.
"At this point, I feel like the party's infighting is the most inefficient thing and they should be putting their resources towards better uses. So, yeah, it's frustrating if anything, seeing it all unfold the way it has."
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