Australian PM Turnbull survives leadership challenge

Canberra : Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has survived a challenge to his leadership by a senior government colleague.

Turnbull defeated Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton in a party room ballot in Canberra on Tuesday, BBC reported.

The prime minister won the vote 48-35, Liberal Party whip Nola Marino told reporters.

Turnbull had brought on the vote himself in a bid to resolve speculation that his leadership was under threat.

He has faced pressure over successive poor poll results, losing a key by-election in Queensland, and a revolt over energy policy by conservative MPs within his party.

On Monday, Turnbull attempted to blunt conflict within the government by abandoning plans to set an emissions reduction target in legislation.

Turnbull thanked his colleagues after the leadership vote, Marino said.

"He will get on with the business now of governing in the interests of all Australians," she said.

Dutton resigned from Cabinet after the vote and will move to the backbench, triggering a ministerial reshuffle.

Australia is due to hold a general election sometime before May next year.

Since 2007, no Australian leader has succeeded in serving a full three-year term as prime minister.

Turnbull became prime minister in 2015, after ousting Tony Abbott in a leadership challenge.