Defence Minister Christopher Pyne, the most moderate remaining member of Morrison’s conservative coalition government, said he was stepping down at the next election, due by mid-May, to begin a business career. The junior defence minister, Steven Ciobo, announced separately that he would also not contest the May election and would give up his portfolio immediately so Morrison could name a replacement. A senior Labor Party official, Penny Wong, said the latest departures illustrated a “stampede for the exits” from the embattled Morrison coalition. Morrison came to power after hardline conservatives in the Liberal party ousted centrist Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull last August. Australian mission holds national day to coincide with springMorrison has since led the party hard to the right.

Source: The Express Tribune March 02, 2019 06:15 UTC