(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –Scott Morrison is to be Australia’s new prime minister after Malcolm Turnbull was forced out by party rivals in a bruising leadership contest.
Mr Turnbull had been under pressure from poor polling and what he described as an “insurgency” by conservative MPs.
Mr Morrison, the treasurer, won an internal ballot 45-40 over former Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton – who had been Mr Turnbull’s most vocal threat.
The outgoing prime minister did not stand in the leadership contest.
Mr Turnbull is the fourth Australian leader in a decade to be ousted by internal rivals.
“It has been such a privilege to be the leader of this great nation. I love Australia. I love Australians,” he said on Friday.
“We have so much going for us in this country. We have to be proud of it and cherish it.”
