Senior minister Mathias Cormann, Michaelia Cash and Mitch Fifield have abandoned Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, clearing the way for Peter Dutton to claim the leadership.
"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," Senator Cormann told the media a short time ago.
Earlier this morning, Peter Dutton spoke to the Prime Minister to request a second party room meeting be held to vote on the Liberal leadership.
The former Home Affairs minister said he believes he has the numbers to beat Mr Turnbull this time, after losing Tuesday's ballot by 13 votes.
SBS News understands the prime minister will not agree to a meeting before he is presented with a final petition signed by a majority of Liberal MPs.
