JANELSA OUMA
Malcolm Turnbull has become Australia’s 29th Prime Minister after successfully winning a leadership ballot against Tony Abbott.
After only two years in the job, Tony Abbott officially stepped down from the position as Prime Minister on Monday night.
Winning the ballot by a clean margin of 10 votes the former Communications Minister is determined to get his party on the right track with the 2009 defeat of the same ballot now officially behind him.
Earlier in the day Turnbull addressed the press confidently  announcing his resignation as Communications Minister and challenged Mr Abbott for leader of the Federal Liberal Party after ‘consulting with many, many colleges’.
“It is clear enough that the government has not been successful in providing the economic leadership that we need,” Mr Turnbull said.
In his first address as designated Prime Minister, Mr Turnbull set the course to be run by the Liberal Party
“We need to have in this country and we will have now; an economic leadership that explains the great challenges and opportunities that we face,” Mr Turnbull said.
“We are seeking to persuade rather than seeking to lecture. This will be a thoroughly liberal government,” he said.
A thoroughly liberal Government committed to freedom, the individual and the market.”
Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop was elected as the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party and sealed the deal with great praise for the new PM and her ‘very dear friend of many years’.
“I am confident that he has the passion, the energy and the vision to lead this country at this very challenging time,” Ms Bishop said.
The Foreign Minister was successful tonight retaining her Deputy leader position over Defence Minister Kevin Andrew 70-30 win.
However Bishop did not fail to recognise Tony Abbott’s contribution to the Liberal Party, despite his downfall in confidence.
“I thank Tony Abbott for his service as the leader of our party and particularly for the effort that he put in the 2013 election when the Australian people knew they could not afford another moment under the Rudd/ Gillard- Rudd government.” she said.
“I’m excited about continuing to serve as the Deputy under Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership and I am thrilled at the prospect of continuing to serve the Australian People as the Foreign Minister.”
Turnbull did hint at a party reshuffle with hope that the Liberal Party would win the seat of Canning in the seats by-election next week.
“Inevitably, there will be changes to ministerial arrangements, I’ll be meeting with the Ministry tomorrow morning,” he said.
Throughout the leadership ballot, social media became animated from all sides of the political spectrum:
Journalist waited upon the first address from the 29th designated PM:
Waiting for the PM elect in the blue room … without air conditioning #auspol pic.twitter.com/U8u5FupQ4J
— James Glenday (@jamesglenday) September 14, 2015
History making announcement:
Government Whip @ScottBuchholzMP announces @TurnbullMalcolm voted new leader of Liberal party #libspill http://t.co/9Ok4ICwPf5
— ABC News (@abcnews) September 14, 2015
Criticism:
Sad to see such a decent man as Abbott toppled. Now Turnbull needs a November election before Labor sacks Shorten.
— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) September 14, 2015
Challenge for change:
.@TurnbullMalcolm "The Liberal party is the broadest & most diverse …" So we're heading for a 50/50 Cabinet? @JulieBishopMP @UNWomenAust
— Virginia Haussegger (@Virginia_Hauss) September 14, 2015
Ex-Prime Minister of the Labor Party, Julia Gillard gave her approval:
Congratulations to Malcolm Turnbull on becoming Prime Minister – a great honour and responsibility. JG
— Julia Gillard (@JuliaGillard) September 14, 2015
Despite their conflicting views on marriage equality, Tony Abbott’s sister expressed her regards:
Australia has lost a Prime Minister who is honest, decent and ALWAYS put the country's interests first #auspol
— Christine Forster (@resourcefultype) September 14, 2015
And the jokes…
Prime Minister-designate @TurnbullMalcolm says the hour is very late and "everyone should go to bed … cheerio!" http://t.co/mIgAIJThWS
— ABC News (@abcnews) September 14, 2015
Even through loss of confidence in leadership, Turnbull says Australia owes a debt to former leader Tony Abbott:
“I want to say at the outset what a great debt the nation owes and the party owes, the Government owes to Tony Abbott and of course, to his family Margie and their daughters,” he said.
Leaving the Cabinet meeting, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott left with head down and refused to talk to the media.
Tony Abbott had a short term of being a Prime Minister compared to his time as being the leader of the Liberal party. The past three Prime Minister’s have been removed by their own parties.
Designated Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull is confident that the Liberal Party will make it through another term of office with himself at its forefront.
“My assumption is the Parliament will serve its full term,” Mr Turnbull said
“There has never been a more exciting time to be alive than today.”
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