Voters began casting ballots in a Sydney by-election on Saturday that could determine the future of Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who is hoping to regain his parliamentary majority and safeguard his leadership. Also read Australia appoints acting PM while Malcolm Turnbull travels amid citizenship crisisJohn Warhurst, a professor of political science at the Australian National University in Canberra, said Turnbull's position would be untenable should the government lose the by-election. "Everything would be on the table, including Malcolm Turnbull's leadership," Warhurst said. Among those forced out was Turnbull's deputy, Barnaby Joyce, who has since won back his seat. One in five Bennelong voters has Chinese heritage and Turnbull's Liberal Party fears a backlash in a potentially tight race.

Source: dna December 16, 2017 03:56 UTC