OK, everyone, thank you very much for being here this morning. I just wanted to make a couple of brief remarks.
As I put out my wife's statement earlier, earlier this morning I called the prime minister to advise him that it was my judgement that the majority of the party no longer support his leadership. As such, I asked him to convene a meeting of the Liberal party, at which I would challenge for the leadership of the Parliamentary Liberal party.
It's with great sadness and a heavy heart that we went to see the prime minister yesterday afternoon to advise him that in our judgement he no longer enjoyed the support of the majority of members in the Liberal Party party room, and that it was in the best interest of the Liberal party for the prime minister to help manage an orderly transition to a new leader.
I became aware yesterday that it was very clear that the prime minister no longer, in my opinion, had the confidence of the party room. I, too, met with the prime minister yesterday afternoon. And I advised him of this. And I urged him to call a party room meeting.
My opinion in that regard has not changed overnight. I have also met again with the prime minister this morning, and again advised him that I do not believe he has the confidence of the party room, and that this matter must be settled, and a party room meeting must be called.
I, too, have tendered my resignation.
