The PM may have won the battle, the party leadership war is not over.
The deputy leadership was also declared vacant, but Julie Bishop has hung on to her role as she was the only person nominated.
Mr Dutton will move to the backbench where he'll likely keep pushing for the leadership.
With much speculation that the PM's front bench does not support him, he lives to fight another day and thanked his colleagues for their support.
The energy policy may have been the reason for the spill, but tensions go much deeper. Mr Dutton is seen as a 'leader' who could unite the conservative faction of the Liberal Party. Expect much sniping and backbiting from the backbench in the coming months.
Who would you rather have the top job? Or are you happy with Malcolm as PM?
Canberra's deranged circus of wreckers are now writing our future
yes, Katherine Murphy got that right