Australia’s new PM Scott Morrison has promised a stable government at the end of a tumultuous week in which his predecessor was forced out of office, 13 ministers resigned and parliament was shut down for an afternoon.
Disgruntled government legislators forced former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull from office on Friday, arguing that most had lost faith in his leadership.
He is the fourth prime minister to be dumped by their own party since 2010 in an extraordinary period of political instability that frustrates most Australians.
“We will provide the stability and the unity and the direction and the purpose that the Australian people expect of us,” Mr Morrison told reporters.
“The work of government continues. I want to assure all Australians that those normal wheels are turning.”
The political civil war has shocked business and industry which want crucial energy and tax policy reforms finalised. It is also an international embarrassment for a nation that prides itself on being a safe and stable democracy in which to invest.
Mr Morrison has been dubbed the “accidental prime minister” because he had no plans to nominate until Thursday when Mr Turnbull declared he would not recontest his job.
Mr Morrison on Friday declined to detail any policy changes he might make, and played down speculation that he might call an election early next year.
“We intend to be governing … so I don’t think anybody should be making any plans for any elections any time soon,” he said.
His resignation would cause a by-election that could cost the government its single-seat majority. It could also provide an incentive to call an early election.
Mr Turnbull, a centrist leader who takes credit for Australia legalising gay marriage, blamed his downfall on a campaign by hard-right members backed by “powerful voices” in the conservative media.
“There was a determined insurgency from a number of people,” he said. “It was extraordinary. It was described as madness by many and I think it’s difficult to describe it in any other way.”
Mr Dutton’s failure prevents Australian policy shifting to the right, although there was little policy discussion in the leadership struggle.
Mr Morrison was officially sworn in as prime minister later on Friday and his deputy leader Josh Frydenberg as treasurer, the new PM’s old portfolio.
Mr Morrison said the rest of his cabinet will be sworn in next week.
