Australia has an acting Prime Minister in place to step in for PM Malcolm Turnbull

Julie Bishop – the Australian Foreign Minister has been appointed the acting PM by Turnbull as he tried to stem the fallout of a citizenship crisis.

The citizenship crisis cost Turnbull’s government its parliamentary majority.

The deputy of Malcolm Turnbull Barnaby Joyce and four other lawmakers ran into trouble as the Australian High Court issued a rulling, saying that they should be expelled from Parliament for holding dual nationality.

Australian HC rulling prompted Turnbull to call an emergency Cabinet meeting to gather support. The emergency meeting also meant that Turnbull had to postpone a planned offcial visit to Israel by three days.

Upon Turnbulls departure to Israel, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is set to take up the rank of acting PM. Bishop is a member of Turnbull’s Liberal Party.

“Government goes on, good government goes on,” Turnbull told reporters in Sydney, dismissing suggestions that the inability to agree on a deputy indicated tensions within the coalition. “When times get tough, that’s when you put your arms around your mates.”