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| Scott Morrison says 'Liberal party is on your side' after bitter leadership feud – politics live | Scott Morrison says 'Liberal party is on your side' after bitter leadership feud – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| It’s just gone 5pm here in Canberra, so it feels like the right time for a summary. | |
| For those waking up overseas and tuning in, don’t worry. It’s just another standard day in Australian politics. A sitting prime minister has been turfed by his own party. Yawn. | |
| The former treasurer, Scott Morrison, is to become Australia’s 30th prime minister, after a dramatic day in Canberra. | |
| A group of conservatives, led by Peter Dutton, forced the leadership spill against the incumbent, Malcolm Turnbull, after days of infighting that had paralysed the government. | |
| Turnbull on Thursday stared down Dutton and his backers, demanding to see evidence that a majority of his party wanted to meet and vote on the leadership. He also raised serious doubts about Dutton’s eligibility to sit in parliament. Turnbull knew he could not hold on, but in so doing, he bought more time for his preferred candidates Scott Morrison and Julie Bishop to secure support. | |
| The majority needed to force the Liberal party meeting was secured, and a spill of the leadership was called. | |
| Dutton, Morrison and Bishop all stood in the leadership ballot on Friday. Bishop was knocked out at the first hurdle. | |
| Morrison won the spill against Dutton 45-40. | |
| Turnbull did not stand in the ballot and will now leave parliament. On the way out, he slammed the deliberate destruction of his prime ministership, blaming Dutton and conservative former prime minister Tony Abbott for leading an “insurgency”. | |
| Morrison stressed unity, stability and liberal-conservative values when he addressed the country. He told Australians the government was here to “serve you”, not itself. He pledged to focus his attention on the drought, and highlighted energy prices and welfare as areas of attention. He gave little explanation for the leadership revolt that has perplexed and angered voters. | |
| Dutton said he held no regrets about his actions. He said the spill was needed to resolve the bitter animosity conservatives still held for Turnbull. He pledged to back Morrison and bury the old grievances. | |
| Liberal MPs have now pleaded with their colleagues to unite behind Morrison, end the infighting and focus on the next election. | |
| We’re still waiting for Morrison to be sworn in as prime minister by the governor-general. Turnbull has already been to see the governor-general to resign. | |
| Another former Labor prime minister offers some words to the Liberals. This time, it’s Julia Gillard. She tells Malcolm Turnbull “there is a life after” and “best wishes for the days to come”. | |
| Congratulations to @ScottMorrisonMP - always an honour to serve. To the 29th PM, from the 27th PM, @TurnbullMalcolm there is a life after. Best wishes for the days to come. | Congratulations to @ScottMorrisonMP - always an honour to serve. To the 29th PM, from the 27th PM, @TurnbullMalcolm there is a life after. Best wishes for the days to come. |
| ABC reporter Jackson Gothe-Snape has tracked down Peter Dutton at a Canberra restaurant. It’s the most we’ve heard from Dutton since his unsuccessful tilt at the leadership. | ABC reporter Jackson Gothe-Snape has tracked down Peter Dutton at a Canberra restaurant. It’s the most we’ve heard from Dutton since his unsuccessful tilt at the leadership. |
| Dutton has pledged to get behind Morrison. He says the old grudges and bitterness between the conservative and moderate forces are done. | Dutton has pledged to get behind Morrison. He says the old grudges and bitterness between the conservative and moderate forces are done. |
| Does he regret what he’s done? | Does he regret what he’s done? |
| No, I don’t regret it at all. I’m pleased that Scott Morrison has been elected prime minister. I think it’s a good day for this country. I think it’s a turning point and I think it’s a healing point for the Liberal party. I think we now look forward instead of back. Obviously the animosity ran deep in the party from when Malcolm Turnbull deposed Tony Abbott. We now draw a line under all of that. | No, I don’t regret it at all. I’m pleased that Scott Morrison has been elected prime minister. I think it’s a good day for this country. I think it’s a turning point and I think it’s a healing point for the Liberal party. I think we now look forward instead of back. Obviously the animosity ran deep in the party from when Malcolm Turnbull deposed Tony Abbott. We now draw a line under all of that. |
| Just to recap on that first press conference from our prime minister-elect, Scott Morrison. | Just to recap on that first press conference from our prime minister-elect, Scott Morrison. |
| Morrison will announce his ministry next week, but it looks as Josh Frydenberg will be his treasurer. | Morrison will announce his ministry next week, but it looks as Josh Frydenberg will be his treasurer. |
| He spoke a lot of unity, stability and serving the Australian people, rather than themselves. That’s not surprising, given the past week. | He spoke a lot of unity, stability and serving the Australian people, rather than themselves. That’s not surprising, given the past week. |
| He listed his immediate priority as the drought. He will review the government’s response. | He listed his immediate priority as the drought. He will review the government’s response. |
| When asked why he helped remove Turnbull, he said he didn’t. He said he was loyal. No real explanation was offered for this radical change in government. | When asked why he helped remove Turnbull, he said he didn’t. He said he was loyal. No real explanation was offered for this radical change in government. |
| He paid tribute to liberal and conservative values, which he described as the “fair go” and individual choice. He also spoke of playing by the rules – singling out energy companies abusing their market position and mentioning power prices. He also, jarringly, mentioned the rules were important for people parking on the street. | He paid tribute to liberal and conservative values, which he described as the “fair go” and individual choice. He also spoke of playing by the rules – singling out energy companies abusing their market position and mentioning power prices. He also, jarringly, mentioned the rules were important for people parking on the street. |
| Morrison told Australians they shouldn’t expect to go to the polls any time soon, despite Turnbull’s imminent resignation, which will trigger a byelection. | Morrison told Australians they shouldn’t expect to go to the polls any time soon, despite Turnbull’s imminent resignation, which will trigger a byelection. |
| I asked new prime minister Scott Morrison to explain to the Australian people why his party removed another sitting Prime Minister today. Here is his (very short) answer: pic.twitter.com/ebR45en0OH | I asked new prime minister Scott Morrison to explain to the Australian people why his party removed another sitting Prime Minister today. Here is his (very short) answer: pic.twitter.com/ebR45en0OH |
| Morrison keeps the press conference snappy. Before he leaves, he lets us know the new ministry will be sworn in next week. He also tells us the normal wheels of government will keep on turning. Always a good thing to hear, really. | Morrison keeps the press conference snappy. Before he leaves, he lets us know the new ministry will be sworn in next week. He also tells us the normal wheels of government will keep on turning. Always a good thing to hear, really. |
| Morrison is asked why he removed a sitting prime minister. | Morrison is asked why he removed a sitting prime minister. |
| “We didn’t,” he replies. “We were loyal.” | “We didn’t,” he replies. “We were loyal.” |
| We will provide the stability and the unity and the direction and the purpose that the Australian people expect of us as leaders. | We will provide the stability and the unity and the direction and the purpose that the Australian people expect of us as leaders. |
| Is Morrison angry at Turnbull for resigning and possibly losing him a majority in the lower house? Morrison says they’ll be governing with stability and won’t be taking Australians to the polls. | Is Morrison angry at Turnbull for resigning and possibly losing him a majority in the lower house? Morrison says they’ll be governing with stability and won’t be taking Australians to the polls. |
| We intend to be governing. And we have got able to do as a fresh new team. So I don’t think anybody should be making any plans for any elections any time soon. The prime minister, as he currently is, has indicated to me that at some time he will be moving away from politics, and I understand and respect that, and I understand it fully. | We intend to be governing. And we have got able to do as a fresh new team. So I don’t think anybody should be making any plans for any elections any time soon. The prime minister, as he currently is, has indicated to me that at some time he will be moving away from politics, and I understand and respect that, and I understand it fully. |
| Morrison is asked whether he will keep conservatives in cabinet to help unify the party. | Morrison is asked whether he will keep conservatives in cabinet to help unify the party. |
| He says it’s important to reflect the conservative and liberal traditions of the party in his team, but says cabinet will be announced in due course. | He says it’s important to reflect the conservative and liberal traditions of the party in his team, but says cabinet will be announced in due course. |
| Scott Morrison praises his predecessor. He described Turnbull as a “great friend”. | Scott Morrison praises his predecessor. He described Turnbull as a “great friend”. |
| He has served his country, in a noble, and professional way. | He has served his country, in a noble, and professional way. |
| He also thanks Peter Dutton, although not quite as forcefully. He says Dutton still has a role to play in the government. | He also thanks Peter Dutton, although not quite as forcefully. He says Dutton still has a role to play in the government. |
| I also want to thank Peter Dutton for the service he has provided. I actually recommended him for the job as minister for immigration and border protection, after I left it some years ago, and he has served faithfully in that role and home affairs, and I look forward, if he so chooses, for him to be playing a role in the government which I intend to lead. | I also want to thank Peter Dutton for the service he has provided. I actually recommended him for the job as minister for immigration and border protection, after I left it some years ago, and he has served faithfully in that role and home affairs, and I look forward, if he so chooses, for him to be playing a role in the government which I intend to lead. |
| Morrison’s immediate policy priority? The drought. He says he will review the government’s drought response immediately. | Morrison’s immediate policy priority? The drought. He says he will review the government’s drought response immediately. |
| Morrison raises the old Howard mantra of “we will decide who comes to this country”. He talks of terrorism and security. | Morrison raises the old Howard mantra of “we will decide who comes to this country”. He talks of terrorism and security. |
| Morrison also speaks of the importance of unity and strong leadership: | Morrison also speaks of the importance of unity and strong leadership: |
| Now, our job, particularly for Josh and I am as we take forward this mantle of leadership as a new generation, is to ensure that we not only bring our party back together, which has been bruised and battered this week, but that will enable us to ensure we bring the parliament back together, that we can continue to work to ensure that our country stays close together | Now, our job, particularly for Josh and I am as we take forward this mantle of leadership as a new generation, is to ensure that we not only bring our party back together, which has been bruised and battered this week, but that will enable us to ensure we bring the parliament back together, that we can continue to work to ensure that our country stays close together |
| Morrison is speaking about Liberal-National values. He starts with the importance of a “fair go” and individual choice. Then he says: | Morrison is speaking about Liberal-National values. He starts with the importance of a “fair go” and individual choice. Then he says: |
| We believe that the best form of welfare is a job. That is what releases people out of poverty. | We believe that the best form of welfare is a job. That is what releases people out of poverty. |
| He says: | He says: |
| But everyone has to play by the rules in this country. Everyone. Whether you are a big business, setting electricity prices, or loaning money, or you are just someone parking in the street. We’ve all got to live by the rules of this country, the law of our land. These are values we uphold. And it’s important that we do that right across our areas of policy | But everyone has to play by the rules in this country. Everyone. Whether you are a big business, setting electricity prices, or loaning money, or you are just someone parking in the street. We’ve all got to live by the rules of this country, the law of our land. These are values we uphold. And it’s important that we do that right across our areas of policy |
| The new prime minister begins with a direct message to the Australian people. He’s trying to address the deep, deep frustration voters hold over this kind of internal mess. | The new prime minister begins with a direct message to the Australian people. He’s trying to address the deep, deep frustration voters hold over this kind of internal mess. |
| There has been a lot of talk this week about whose side people are on in this building. And what Josh and I are here to tell you, as the new generation of Liberal leadership, is that we are on your side. That’s what matters. We are on your side. | There has been a lot of talk this week about whose side people are on in this building. And what Josh and I are here to tell you, as the new generation of Liberal leadership, is that we are on your side. That’s what matters. We are on your side. |
| We mentioned earlier that Scott Morrison, our incoming PM, was expected to speak at 3pm. There’s been a slight delay. The new time is 4.15pm. So stick with us. | We mentioned earlier that Scott Morrison, our incoming PM, was expected to speak at 3pm. There’s been a slight delay. The new time is 4.15pm. So stick with us. |
| We’re expecting to hear how Morrison will unite the party, lead a new policy agenda, and deal with a buoyant Labor opposition. | We’re expecting to hear how Morrison will unite the party, lead a new policy agenda, and deal with a buoyant Labor opposition. |