Tony Abbott has accused Malcolm Turnbull of behaving like a “clever barrister” after the Prime Minister denied a story in The Australian newspaper that claimed immigration minister Peter Dutton raised the prospect of reducing Australia’s annual permanent immigration intake in cabinet.
Mr Dutton allegedly proposed the number of immigrants allowed into the country be reduced by 20,000 to 170,000 people, which the article states Mr Turnbull overruled.
Mr Abbott said he’s “beat” as to “why... the Prime Minister himself and other senior ministers have got their “knickers in a twist” to deny that Peter Dutton raised this issue.”