Australia's coalition is bracing for a three‑way leadership battle to replace Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull after a stand‑off with challenger Peter Dutton plunged the government into "madness"  and spurred new demands for a snap election to end the paralysis in Parliament.

After a week of bitter infighting, Treasurer Scott Morrison and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop prepared to oppose Dutton at a ballot at 2pm this afternoon to decide Australia's next Prime Minister ‑ the seventh change of leader in a decade.

Turnbull infuriated his enemies yesterday by declaring he would resign from Parliament if he lost the leadership, blaming critics in the media and within his own party for leading an "insurgency" against the government.

[Source: stuff.co]