Morrison a shot in the arm for Coalition, but will he improve QLD election prospects?

NEW Prime Minister Scott Morrison is under pressure to launch a maroon assault to stem the Coalition’s dire election prospects in Queensland amid revelations the Government is tracking worse than expected.

NEW Prime Minister Scott Morrison is under pressure to launch a maroon assault to stem the Coalition’s dire election prospects in Queensland amid revelations the Government is tracking worse than expected.

After wrangling the leadership from Queensland challenger Peter Dutton, Mr Morrison became the 30th prime minister of Australia and in his first address tried to appeal to working-class families.

“The values and beliefs that we hold is what connects us all. If you have a go in this country you’ll get a go,” he said.

“That’s what fairness in Australia means. This is something we hold very dear to us.

“We’re on your side. We’re on your side because we share beliefs and values in common, as you go about everything you do each day.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison at Government House after being sworn in by the Governor-general Sir Peter Cosgrove pictured with wife Jenny and their daughters Abbey and Lily. Picture: Sean Davey

Mr Morrison said his first priorities would be lowering energy prices for those struggling with power bills, and helping drought-stricken farmers. He did not outline any significant policy changes.

Mr Morrison won the ballot against Mr Dutton 45 votes to 40 after former Liberal deputy leader Julie Bishop bowed out in the first round of the three-way tussle. Mr Dutton started the day as the frontrunner to take the leadership and 45 of his colleagues voted to bring on the spill. However, it is understood some Victorians then switched at the last minute to stop Mr Dutton winning the ballot. Josh Frydenberg overwhelmingly beat Steven Ciobo and Greg Hunt for the deputy position.

In his first afternoon as Prime Minister, Mr Morrison, the former treasurer, met with Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary Martin Parkinson, had a phone call with New Zealand leader Jacinda Ardern, signed a new agreement with the Nationals, and was sworn in by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove.

He then had dinner with his family, his wife Jenny and daughters Abbey and Lily.

As Malcolm Turnbull officially resigned yesterday after 1074 days in the top job — just falling short of becoming Australia’s longest-serving PM in a decade — details can be revealed about the shock tactics to keep Mr Dutton, who holds the marginal Queensland seat of Dickson, from winning the leadership ­ballot.

The Courier-Mail understands the Turnbull camp tried to get Mr Parkinson to disconnect the parliamentary phones of MPs who resigned to stop them from organising the coup.

After Mr Turnbull called a party room meeting after 24 hours of bizarre tactics, the Dutton camp collected 43 signatures that ended the former PM’s career.

Mr Turnbull will, in the coming weeks, resign from Parliament, forcing a by-election in Wentworth and potentially costing Mr Morrison his one-seat majority. It is likely the Speaker will not set a by-election date until next year, when a general election is due.

Josh Frydenberg overwhelmingly beat Steven Ciobo and Greg Hunt for the deputy position. Picture: AAP Image/Sam Mooy

In a day of high drama, Mr Turnbull’s office released legal advice from the Solicitor-General stating Mr ­Dutton was eligible to sit in Parliament.

Claims Mr Dutton’s childcare centres put him afoul of the Constitution were seen as a transparent move to derail Mr Dutton’s tilt.

Attorney-General Christian Porter had also planned to join Mathias Cormann and Michaelia Cash to publicly reveal he no longer believed Mr Turnbull had the support of the party room, but it was decided by the Dutton camp that he should not resign to ensure dealings with the Solicitor-General were fair and transparent. Those close to the issue said Mr Porter acted with dignity and told Mr Turnbull he had a conflict, given he had an interest in the outcome of the legal advice.

It is also understood some MPs were pressured by the Turnbull camp not to turn up to a Labor parliamentary motion to refer Mr Dutton to the High Court. He won by only one vote after some Government MPs failed to turn up.

Privately, some MPs have revealed they were now fearful of payback from Mr Turnbull or his supporters.

Mr Dutton will stay in Parliament and run in his seat in Dickson. Mr Morrison has hinted he would like to appoint Mr Dutton to his Cabinet, with Mr Dutton likely to return to his Home Affairs portfolio. Highly placed sources said Mr Dutton would now back Mr Morrison to ensure he won the next election.

“My course from here is to provide absolute loyalty to Scott Morrison, to make sure that we win the election and that we defeat Bill Shorten to make sure he’s never prime minister,'’ Mr Dutton said.

It is understood the Coalition vote in Queensland is worse in some seats than publicly known. LNP president Gary Spence, who asked Queensland parliamentarians to back Mr Dutton, emailed members explaining why he threw his support behind Mr Dutton, but also outlined a policy manifesto that would undoubtedly be referred to Mr Morrison. Mr Spence said it was ­important the Coalition maintained its Conservative roots.

“I took a stand on the position of prime minister in order to protect the best interests of the LNP and also those of every Queenslander,” he said. “As your party president, it is my responsibility to fight for the values of our party and to see those values translated into solid, deliverable policies that benefit the youth, families, workers, business owners and retirees in Queensland.

“I wish to acknowledge Peter Dutton. Without his intervention, the circumstance that has now been resolved may have continued through to the next election.”