Morrison tours drought-hit Outback

Australia’s new prime minister visited the drought-stricken Outback yesterday in a demonstration that he had turned his focus away from his government’s internal drama to the problems of the nation.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison nominated drought assistance as a top priority along with national security and economic growth when he was chosen by lawmakers in his conservative Liberal Party on Friday to replace his predecessor Malcolm Turnbull. Turnbull became the fourth prime minister to be dumped by his or her own party since 2010 in response to poor opinion polling.

Morrison flew to rural western Queensland state, where crops are failing and ranchers are struggling to feed sheep and cattle after six years of drought. He has yet to announce any new initiatives to help farmers.

Morrison is working to heal a bitter rift between conservative and moderate lawmakers in his conservative government to present a united front to voters at elections due by May. The hard-right lawmaker who led the charge against Turnbull but lost the leadership ballot to Morrison was sworn in as home affairs minister yesterday.

Peter Dutton had quit that post so he could publicly challenge Turnbull.

Tony Abbott, a key Dutton ally who was prime minister before Turnbull replaced him in a similar Liberal Party revolt in 2015, declared on Monday that the government would not turn against Morrison.

“The era of the political assassin is over and thank God for that,” Abbott told Sydney Radio 2GB.

Morrison welcomed Abbott’s comments.