Scott Morrison has been selected as Australia’s 30th Prime Minister.
Mr Morrison defeated Peter Dutton 45 votes to 40 in the secret ballot. Leadership candidate Julie Bishop was knocked out in the first round.
The decision capped off a week of turmoil in Canberra that began after Mr Dutton declared his intention to force Malcolm Turnbull from the prime ministership, saying the party needed to make a change if it was to win the forthcoming federal election, due before May 18 next year.
Mr Turnbull, who became prime minister in 2015 following a spill against Tony Abbott, stood aside on Friday after receiving a petition from a majority of Liberal MPs demanding a ballot to select a new leader. He has indicated he will resign from Parliament, potentially forcing a byelection in his seat of Wentworth.
In 2015, before Malcolm Turnbull challenged Tony Abbott for the leadership as one influential MP told the Women’s Weekly back,
“If we lose the next election, Scott Morrison will be the leader.”
Australia has now changed its prime minister 6 times since the 2007 election.
Energy and Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg has been elected deputy Liberal leader. Mr Frydenberg will take over from Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop who had served as deputy Liberal leader under Malcolm Turnbull and Tony Abbott.
The change in leadership means there will be a new ministerial line up.