Scott Morrison has been sworn in as Australia’s new Prime Minister
AUSTRALIA’S new Prime Minister Scott Morrison — who has just been sworn in at a ceremony at Government House — today made a direct pitch to voters, telling them he was on their side and stressing his belief in a “fair go for all”.
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AUSTRALIA’S new Prime Minister Scott Morrison — who has just been sworn in at a ceremony at Government House — today made a direct pitch to voters, telling them he was on their side and stressing his belief in a “fair go for all”.
He also focused on the issues of the drought, health care and power prices in his first speech since Malcolm Turnbull resigned as prime minister earlier today and was replaced in a Liberal spill by Mr Morrison.
The former national treasurer until Mr Turnbull said he and deputy Josh Frydenberg were the “new generation of Liberal leadership”.
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“New generation of liberal leadership — we’re on your side. That’s what matters. We’re on your side and we’re on your side because we share beliefs and values in common as you go about everything you do each day, getting up in the morning, getting to work, turning up onsite, getting the parents you’re caring for up in the morning, exchanging that smile each and every day, getting the kids off to school, getting home at night, perhaps if you’re lucky a bit of time together, those happy moments, too often too far between with the pressures so many families face today,” Mr Morrison said.
Mr Morrison said he would turn his immediate attention to drought, as the most “urgent and pressing need right now”.
He also outlined a focus on maintaining economic stability and national security as well as slashing electricity prices, chronic illness, affordable medicines, aged care, Medicare and supporting small and medium sized business.
“Keeping our economy strong, keeping Australians safe and keeping Australians together,” he said.
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He vowed to consult widely on policy and to take any major policy shifts to his new Cabinet —— which will be worked on this weekend.
Mr Morrison said Australians hold fairness “very dear to us”.
“There is a fair go for those who have a go, that’s what fairness in Australia means.”
Mr Morrison said the best form of welfare was a job and argued the need for self-determination.
“We believe in choice. And because of that we can believe in our future, we’re an optimist, we’re a passionate and am ambitious people — full of aspiration for ourselves, for our family and of course for the nation for all of us. That’s what we believe as liberals,” he said.
“Our plan, my plan, for this country is for an even stronger Australia. To keep our economy strong, to guarantee the essentials Australians rely on, to keep Australians safe from terrorism and all the way to bullying in our schools. To keep our country together, to not pit one group of Australians against another. To ensure that one can succussed and all can succeed, that one doesn’t have to fail, for another one to succeed.”
“We have a lot of challenges as a country and we will get through them as we always have — together.”
Mr Morrison said he would work to reunite the party and the parliament in the wake of Mr Turnbull being dumped in a divisive battle with former Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton and his conservative backers in the party.
“To ensure we not only bring our party back together, which has been bruised and battered this week, but that will enable to us to ensure we bring the parliament back together,” Me Morrison said.
“That we can continue to work to ensure our country stays close together. We are a resilient bunch Australians.”
Mr Morrison praised Mr Turnbull as a “dear friend”.
“He’s a great Australian who’s contributed a great deal to this nation.”
He also praised former deputy leader Julie Bishop as a “rock star for the Liberal party” and a skilled foreign minister who he could welcome into his new Cabinet.
He also flagged that his challenger for the liberal leadership, Peter Dutton, could be offered a position in his new Cabinet.
“I look forward, if he so chooses, to him playing a role in the government which I intend to lead.”
Mr Frydenberg said the new government would focus on Australians not on party infighting.
The last week has been about us, and from here on it’s about the Australian people,” he said.
Mr Morrison also indicated the election would be held in 2019.
“I don’t think anybody should be making any plans for any election anytime soon,” he said.
WHAT HAPPENED TODAY
Earlier today Scott Morrison was chosen as the new Liberal leader and prime minister-designate after ousting Peter Dutton and Julie Bishop in a leadership vote.
The deputy leader position was also voted on, and Josh Frydenberg was chosen to hold the position previously held by Ms Bishop.
Mr Turnbull quit the top job after he called for a spill of leadership positions in a Liberal party-room meeting.
Mr Dutton, Mr Morrison and Ms Bishop engaged in a three-way contest to replace him, with Ms Bishop eliminated first after obtaining the lowest vote.
Mr Morrison then defeated Mr Dutton in the next round by five votes, 45 to 40.
The original spill motion was carried 45 votes to 40, meaning almost half the party room wanted Mr Turnbull to remain.