New Delhi:
Scott Morrison on Thursday became the new Prime Minister of Australia after party rivals ousted Malcolm Turnbull, according to local media reports. Turnbull was under pressure to quit ahead of looming elections due to his poor performance and revolt by conservative MPs.
Morrison, the current treasurer, won 45 votes against former Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton’s 40 in an internal Liberal Party ballot. Leadership candidate Julie Bishop failed to garner enough votes and knocked out in the first round.
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Turnbull, who became 29th Australian PM in 2015 following a spill Tony Abbott, had to face revolt after receiving a petition from a majority of Liberal MPs demanding a ballot to select a new leader.
The ousted Australian leader also hinted that he will resign from Parliament. If he resigned, a byelection will be held in his seat of Wentworth. This is the 6th time since 2007 elections that Australia has changed its prime minister.
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Besides, Energy and Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg was elected as the new Deputy Liberal under the Morrison. Frydenberg will replace Julie Isabel Bishop, who had served under Turnbull and Tony Abbott.
