Australian politician Malcolm Turnbull on Monday announced he would challenge Prime Minister Tony Abbott for the leadership of the Liberal Party, saying the premier could not win the next election.

"A little while ago I met with the prime minister and advised him that I would be challenging him for the leadership of the Liberal Party, and I asked him to arrange or facilitate a meeting of the party room to enable a leadership ballot to be held,"  Turnbull said after resigning as communications minister.