Morrison to replace ousted Turnbull as Australian PM

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Treasurer Scott Morrison is set to replace Malcolm Turnbull as Australia's prime minister after winning a three-way battle for the leadership of the governing Liberal Party.

The switch comes at the end of a week in which former Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has twice attempted to bring down Turnbull, who came to power in September 2015.

In a leadership ballot this morning, which Turnbull decided not to contest, Morrison came out ahead of Dutton and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

Malcolm Turnbull, Australia's outgoing prime minister, waves while holding his granddaughter Alice during a news conference in Canberra, Australia, August 24, 2018. /VCG Photo‍

Morrison, an ally of Turnbull, won a party-room ballot 45-40. Bishop, another Turnbull backer, was eliminated in the first round of voting.

"Those who have a go, will get a go," Morrison, a former immigration minister, said in a news conference dominated by domestic affairs.

Morrison pledged to bring his "bruised and battered" Liberal party back together, and ensure the country remained united. He also paid tribute to outgoing Prime Minister Turnbull.

Turnbull will also resign from parliament, leaving the new government facing a by-election for his Sydney seat that could see it lose its one-seat majority – and greatly enhance the prospects of new elections.

"I'll be leaving the parliament not before too long. As I have always said. I've been very clear about that. It's not a secret," Turnbull told reporters in Canberra.

Scott Morrison, Australia's prime minister-designate, center, and Josh Frydenberg, deputy leader of the Liberal Party, right, leave following a closed-door meeting of lawmakers in Canberra, Australia, August 24, 2018. /VCG Photo

Turnbull blamed his demise on "vengeance, personal ambition, factional feuding" in his party, led by conservative lawmakers including former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, the man he toppled in a party-room coup in September 2015.

"Australians will be dumbstruck and so appalled at the conduct of the past week," said Turnbull.

The Liberal party is the senior partner in the ruling conservative coalition that will face an election by May 2019.

The Liberal-National government has consistently trailed the opposition Labor party in opinion polls.

Josh Frydenberg has overwhelmingly secured the position of Liberal deputy leader, according to Sky News.

"My course from here is to provide absolute loyalty to Scott Morrison," Dutton, who Turnbull accused of bullying and intimidation in the move to knife him, said in brief comments afterwards.

The unrest is the latest chapter in a turbulent decade for Australian politics, which has frequently descended into manoeuvering and backstabbing that has alienated voters.

No leader has managed to serve out a full term since former Prime Minister John Howard lost the 2007 election, in a remarkable revolving door at Canberra's parliament house.

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