Morrison named Australian Prime Minister after tumultuous week
New leader promises unity and stability following Turnbull’s removal
new prime minister, Scott Morrison, yesterday promised a stable government at the end of a chaotic week in which his predecessor was ousted, 13 ministers resigned and Parliament was shut down for an afternoon.
Disgruntled government politicians forced former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull from office, saying that most had lost faith in his leadership. Mr Turnbull became the fourth PM dumped by colleagues since 2010 in an extraordinary period of political instability that frustrates most Australians.
Mr Morrison distanced himself from the turmoil, saying he had not been part of the push led by Peter Dutton to oust Mr Turnbull over four tumultuous days that was inspired by a feud between hard-right conservatives and moderates.
Mr Morrison said: “We will provide the stability and the unity and the direction and the purpose that the Australian people expect of us.
“The work of government continues. I want to assure all Australians that those normal wheels are turning.”
The political civil war shocked business and industry that want crucial energy and tax policy reforms finalised. It is also an embarrassment for a nation that prides itself on being a safe and stable democracy in which to invest.
It is not clear who, if anyone, will take Mr Turnbull’s place on an important trip he planned next week to regional neighbours Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, which was to end at an annual forum of 18 Pacific island nations on Nauru on 5 September.
China hopes the change of leader will thaw bilateral relaaustralia’s tions that have been chilled for months by Mr Turnbull’s crackdown on covert foreign interference in domestic politics and on industrial espionage.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman congratulated Mr Morrison on his new role and said Beijing would work with him to develop China-australia ties “along the right track”.
Mr Morrison has been dubbed the “accidental Prime Minister” because he had no plans to challenge for the role until Thursday, when Mr Turnbull declared he would not run again for the job. Mr Morrison has refused to give details about any policy changes that he might make.
He played down speculation that he might call a general election before it is due early next year.
“We intend to be governing ... so I don’t think anybody should be making any plans for any elections any time soon,” he said.
Mr Turnbull said he would quit politics “not before too long”.
His resignation would force a by-election that could cost the government its single-seat majority. It could also provide an incentive to call an early election.
Mrturnbull, a centrist, blamed his downfall on a campaign by hard-right politicians backed by “powerful voices” in the conservative media.
“There was a determined insurgency from a number of people,” he said. “It was extraordinary. It was described as madness by many and I think it’s difficult to describe it in any other way.”
Mr Turnbull said he was impressed by his party’s decision not to reward Mr Dutton and to elect Mr Morrison, whom he described as a “very loyal and effective treasurer”. Mr Morrison defeated Mr Dutton by 45 votes to 40.
Mr Dutton’s failure prevents Australian policy from shifting to the hard right. He suggested the crisis had been driven by personalities rather than policy differences.
“For me, I only ever nominated because I believed I was a better person and a person of greater strength and integrity to lead the Liberal Party,” he said.