Australia’s new prime minister Scott Morrison has outlined his vision for a more compassionate nation and declared he represented ‘generational change’ within the Liberal Party.
The 50-year-old father-of-two, who worships at a Hillsong mega church at Sutherland in Sydney’s south, said he stood on the side of workers, whether they toiled in an office or on a building site.
‘I’m on your side, that’s what matters,’ he said in his first media conference leading the nation.
‘We’re on your side because we share beliefs and values in common.’
Australia’s new prime minister Scott Morrison has outlined his vision for a more compassionate nation and declared he represented ‘generational change’ within the Liberals
Flanked by new Liberal deputy leader Josh Frydenberg, the father-of-two from Sydney’s Sutherland Shire declared they represented ‘generational change’ within the Liberal Party, less than four hours after Malcolm Turnbull, 63, resigned as prime minister.
Australia’s 30th prime minister, and the fifth to lead the nation in five years, promised to heal the divisions in the Liberal Party.
‘It has been a tough few days,’ he said.
He paid tribute to his immediate predecessor Mr Turnbull and the Liberal Party’s former deputy leader of almost 11 years, Julie Bishop, for their ‘outstanding contribution to the nation and the party’.
Without his brother-in-law Gary Warren, who has multiple sclerosis, he said he had ‘always been a big fan of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Scott Morrison also paid tribute to his immediate predecessor Malcolm Turnbull, hours after he addressed the nation for the last time
‘I have also been so keen to ensure it is funded,’ he said.
Ironically, it was Labor leader Bill Shorten who was instrumental in setting up the NDIS as a parliamentary secretary for disabilities in the Rudd government.
Just hours after seizing the nation’s top job in an extraordinary three-way leadership ballot, Mr Morrison said Australians were an ‘ambitious and aspirational’ people with a bright future.
‘Our plan, my plan, is for an even stronger Australia,’ he said.
Mr Morrison said he was on the side of everyday Australians working to make a living, care for their families and ‘having a go’.
He said Australia had enjoyed a great run of economic prosperity, and he was determined for that to continue.
He said his immediate and most urgent priority was tackling the devastating drought that was crippling the country.
But Mr Morrison also said wanted to address soaring electricity prices, bullying in schools and ensure Australia was safe from terrorism.
Scott Morrison (pictured, right, with new Liberals deputy leader Josh Frydenberg) has become the new prime minister of Australia
The new prime minister will soon be fighting a new political battle in Mr Turnbull’s seat of Wentworth.
Malcolm Turnbull has left a ticking time bomb for Australia’s new prime minister Scott Morrison that will explode when he leaves Parliament.
Mr Turnbull confirmed he would soon be quitting Parliament for good, forcing a crucial by-election in his Sydney seat of Wentworth and putting at risk the Government’s wafer-thin majority.
Mr Morrison became Australia’s fifth prime minister in five years after a week of bitter factional infighting within the Liberals which saw Malcolm Turnbull overthrown.
In his first speech as Australia’s 30th prime minister, the former treasurer declared he would be a leader for workers.
‘I’m on your side, that’s what matters,’ he said at his first media conference as PM.
Flanked by new Liberal deputy leader Josh Frydenberg, the father-of-two from Sydney’s Sutherland Shire mentioned the need to fund disability services.
Without mentioning his brother-in-law Gary Warren, who has multiple sclerosis, he said he had ‘always been a big fan of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
‘I have also been so keen to ensure it is funded,’ he said.
Ironically, it was Labor leader Bill Shorten who was instrumental in setting up the NDIS as a parliamentary secretary for disabilities in the Rudd government.
Mr Morrison prevailed in a three-way battle with former Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.
Ms Bishop was eliminated first after getting the lowest vote, and Mr Morrison then defeated Mr Dutton in the next round by five votes, 45 to 40.
Government Whip Nola Marino announced the results and revealed the deputy position was won ‘overwhelmingly’ by Josh Frydenberg with an absolute majority.
Mr Dutton congratulated Mr Morrison and Mr Frydenberg.
‘I thank Malcolm Turnbull very much for his service as prime minister of this country and Julie Bishop who’s been an amazing Foreign Affairs Minister and deputy leader of our party,’ he said.
‘My course from here is to provide absolute loyalty to Scott Morrison, to make sure we that we win the election and defeat Bill Shorten and make sure he’s never prime minister.’
Mr Morrison, a known moderate, takes charge of a severely divided party after a week of ugly infighting.
His first job will be to try to bring the warring factions together and present a united front to voters ahead of an election due before May 2019.
Mr Morrison also faces the challenge of maintaining the Government’s majority ahead of a crucial by-election in the Sydney seat of Wentworth.
Mr Turnbull went on to slam what he called an ‘insurgency by a number of people, both in the party room and backed by powerful voices in the media’ determined to destroy his prime ministership
Ms Bishop (pictured with Mr Turnbull) was eliminated first after getting the lowest vote, and Mr Morrison then defeated Mr Dutton in the next round by five votes, 45 to 40
Mr Morrison (pictured) prevailed in a three-way battle with former Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop
Senator Mathias Cormann and former Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton arrive for the Liberal Party room meeting
Malcolm Turnbull held a press conference after the leadership spill in which he congratulated Scott Morrison and thanked Julie Bishop
Mr Morrison will be sworn in by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove on Friday afternoon.
The rebellion against Mr Turnbull was sparked by the conservative wing of the party, which feared the Government’s drift to the left was hurting its electoral chances.
Mr Morrison has served as Treasurer for the past three years and was previously the Minister for Immigration.
He entered Parliament in 2007 after a successful business career, where he was managing director of Tourism Australia and the man behind the controversial ‘So where the bloody hell are you’ advertising campaign.
The spill took place in a partyroom meeting at 12.20pm, after 45 members voted in favour of spilling and 40 against, resulting in the Liberal leadership being declared vacant when Mr Turnbull resigned, as he promised on Thursday.
Mr Turnbull, who has not said exactly when he will retire from Parliament, addressed the media shortly after the spill.
An immediate retirement would trigger a by-election in the New South Wales seat of Wentworth.
‘It may surprise you on a day like this but I remain very optimistic and positive about our nation’s future, and I want to thank the Australian people,’ he said.
He congratulated new Prime Minister Scott Morrison, praising him as a ‘very loyal and effective Treasurer’ and thanked Julie Bishop, who he called a ‘dear friend’.
‘In the party room meeting today I was impressed by how many of my colleagues spoke or voted for loyalty above disloyalty,’ he said.
‘How the insurgents were not rewarded by electing Mr Dutton, for example.’
Mr Turnbull went on to slam what he called an ‘insurgency by a number of people, both in the party room and backed by powerful voices in the media’ determined to destroy his prime ministership.
‘The people who chose Peter Dutton and Tony Abbott, who chose to deliberately attack the Government from within, they did so because they wanted to bring the Government down,’ he said.
‘Insofar as there has been chaos this week, it has been created by the wreckers. I have done everything I can to maintain the stability of government and the stability of the party.
‘But, of course, if people are determined to wreck then they will continue to do so.’
Former prime minister Tony Abbott, who lost the leadership to Mr Turnbull in 2015, looked shocked as he said the party now faced the task of saving the government.
‘We’ve lost a prime minister but there is still a government to save. That is what we will all try our best to do now,’ he said.
Mr Turnbull congratulated new Prime Minister Scott Morrison, praising him as a ‘very loyal and effective Treasurer’ and thanked Julie Bishop, who he called a ‘dear friend’
Government Whip Nola Marino said the deputy position was won by Josh Frydenberg (pictured) with an absolute majority
Treasurer Scott Morrison (pictured, right, with Mr Turnbull) prevailed against Mr Dutton and Ms Bishop in Friday’s spill
The meeting followed a tense morning in Canberra during which the Solicitor-General said challenger Peter Dutton was likely clear to sit in Parliament.
Attorney-General Christian Porter on Friday said he had received advice from Solicitor-General Stephen Donoghue QC about Mr Dutton’s eligibility over his financial interests in Commonwealth-funded childcare centres.
Mr Donaghue found there is ‘some risk’ the High Court would find Mr Dutton has a conflict of interest over federal payments to the childcare centres, but Mr Dutton was likely ‘not incapable’ of sitting.
The advice was given to both Mr Dutton and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, before the 43 signatures needed to force the leadership spill were secured.
Mr Dutton defeated deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop (pictured) and Treasurer Scott Morrison in a three-way battle for the prime ministership
Mr Turnbull resigned from the Liberal party leadership after 45 members voted in favour of a spill motion
Mr Dutton released a statement saying the SG’s finding’s were consistent with his previous legal advice on the matter.
‘The consistent and strong advice which I have received puts to rest the false, unsubstantiated and malicious claims regarding my eligibility to sit as a Member of Parliament,’ he said.
Section 44 of the Constitution bans from parliament persons who have ‘any direct or indirect pecuniary interest with the public service of the Commonwealth’.
Mr Donaghue said it was not possible to reach a definitive conclusion without more detailed information.
Legal advice confirming Peter Dutton’s eligibility to sit in Parliament was handed to Malcolm Turnbull ahead of the spill which saw Scott Morrison become Prime Minister
The legal advice came after one of Mr Turnbull’s most loyal supporters, former Finance Minister Mathia Cormann, declared his support for Mr Dutton.
Mr Cormann said the Member for Dickson in outer Brisbane is the man to win back John Howard’s battlers and unite the fractured party.
‘Peter Dutton connects very well to hard-working, aspirational Australians,’ Mr Cormann told Sky News on Friday.
‘I believe he will be able to reconnect with the Howard battlers – bring them back in the Liberal fold.
‘He knows what it takes to connect to families around Australia wanting to get ahead.’
Mr Cormann, who is a close friend of Mr Dutton, said the former home affairs minister was best equipped to unite the Liberals and win the next federal election.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop arrives for a vote to adjourn the House of Representatives