Australia's Turnbull loses 2 ministers 3 months after taking over

Sydney

AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull lost two ministers from his three-month-old administration on Tuesday as Jamie Briggs, responsible for development of cities, quit and Special Minister of State Mal Brough temporarily stood aside.

Mr Turnbull said on Tuesday that Mr Briggs's conduct "fell short" of standards expected of ministers. Mr Briggs said that he resigned after an unspecified incident involving a female public servant in a bar in Hong Kong, but didn't provide further details. Minister for the Environment Greg Hunt will assume Mr Briggs's responsibilities until a replacement is named.