Today will be a big day for Australia’s political landscape.

Embattled Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has now confirmed he will call a party room meeting at midday today, to deal with any leadership challenges in his fragmented party. However, there is a fundamental caveat on that call.

In an extraordinary move, a defiant Turnbull is demanding the majority of the party room sign a public petition declaring their withdrawal of support, before he allows a leadership contest.

The likely-to-be-toppled PM has also called on the Solicitor-General to reveal if Peter Dutton has a case to answer when it comes to his potential constitutional eligibility issues before midday today.

All this has culminated in what is predicted to be a three-way challenge between Dutton, Treasurer Scott Morrison and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

For Senator Cory Bernardi, the party’s internal warfare has not been caused by the National Energy Guarantee – though this was the catalyst. It’s the product of Turnbull’s abandonment of traditional, conservative values. He’s jumped ideological ship and is trying to mold the Liberal Party in his moderate, Labor-lite image.  The Liberal Party’s demarcation from the left has eroded away.

“Let’s remember Turnbull’s history,” says Bernardi.

“He was a guy who went to see Grahame Richardson and Bob Hawke about joining the Labor Party. When they said they didn’t want him, he joined the Liberal Party and went about radicalising his agenda.”

“It’s not green enough for me, it’s not left wing enough for me, it’s not republican enough for me. So I’ll undermine everyone to get what I want, that’s (Turnbull’s thinking).”

“He ditched every convention. He undid all of them and this is the end result.”

Click PLAY below for the full interview