Scott Morrison: Meet Australia’s new Prime Minister, leader of the Liberal Party and controversial Christian

Scott Morrison has become Australia's 30th prime minister 

Australia’s former treasurer Scott Morrison has been named as the country’s new Prime Minister following a bruising leadership contest.

Despite denying any sign of a leadership contest just three days ago the Evangelical Christian is now set to replace Malcolm Turnbull as Australia’s 30th Prime Minister.

Mr Morrison won a leadership bid 45 votes to 40 in the Liberal Party in a bitter battle on Thursday.

Mr Turnbull had been forced to hold the leadership ballot by supporters of challenger Peter Dutton, a former cabinet minister.

Despite not contesting the challenge, Mr Turnbull condemned Dutton supporters for bringing down his leadership, which he described as “an insurgency”, branding his opponents as “wreckers” who had created chaos.

Here is everything you need to know about Australia's new Prime Minister.

When did Scott Morrison begin his political career?

The new Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his deputy Josh Frydenberg
REUTERS

Mr Morrison entered Australian politics after a stint setting up New Zealand’s Office of Tourism and Sport.

In 2001, he took up the job as state director of the New South Wales Liberal Party. He made his first bid for parliament in 2007 running for the safe Liberal seat of Cook. Mr Morrison suffered a crushing blow at the hands of Lebanese Catholic Michael Towke.

He clinched the seat months later and in September 2008 was appointed shadow minister for housing by predecessor Mr Turnbull.

Scott Morrison with outgoing Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull
EPA

The new leader rose to public prominence when the conservative coalition government was first elected under Prime Minister Tony Abbott in 2013.

He was appointed immigration minister and later worked in social services.

Mr Morrison took over as treasurer when Mr Turnbull ousted leader Mr Abbott in 2016.

Why is Scott Morrison controversial?

Mr Morrison was the man behind a controversial 2006 tourism campaign featuring bikini-clad model Lara Bingle.

It ran with the slogan “so where the bloody hell are you?” in a bid to attract holidaying Brits but was swiftly banned in the UK because of complaints about the choice of language.

Scott Morrison and deputy Josh Frydenberg attend a swearing in ceremony in Canberra
AFP/Getty Images

Mr Morrison is renowned for this tough stance on immigration.

In 2013, he used his position as immigration and citizenship spokesman to launch Operation Sovereign Borders that stopped asylum seekers from attempting to reach Australian shores by boat.

Australia uses the navy to turn boats back to Indonesia, or banishes refugees to remote immigration camps on the poor Pacific island nations of Papua New Guinea and Nauru.

The policy has been widely condemned as a callous abrogation of Australia's international obligations to help refugees. Australia's human rights watchdog found in 2014 that Mr Morrison failed to act in the best interests of asylum seeker children in detention.

The new Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks during the news conference in Canberra
REUTERS

Mr Morrison explained his deep belief in the righteousness of crushing the people-smuggling trade and preserving the safety of people who board rickety boats to take the long and treacherous voyage to Australia.

But his empathy came under question when he criticised a former government's decision in 2010 to pay asylum seekers to fly from a remote Christmas Island camp to Sydney to attend funerals after 48 died in a boat disaster.

Explaining the reasons behind his vote, he said: "My view on this topic is as important as everyone else’s. That is why we are having a survey on it. My view is, look I am voting no, it is OK to say no and people should know that."

Nonetheless, the bill was overwhelmingly endorsed in a government-commissioned postal survey.

Is Scott Morrison married?

He met his wife Jenny Warren at church when they were both 16 years old and married five years later.

The couple has two daughters together.

New Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison with daughters, Abigail, second from right, and Lily, second from left, and wife Jenny after being sworn in at Government House
AP

What's public opinion like?

Mr Morrison is seen by some as an incongruous mix of a committed Christian who made his name through ratcheting up the refugee policy that many church groups condemned as inhumane.

Some also find his politics confusing - he started his career as a moderate in the ruling conservative Liberal Party and morphed into a conservative.

But as a conservative who respects moderates, voters appear to think Mr Morrison is well placed to heal the civil war within the party that brought him to power.

What has he said about his PM role?

Mr Morrison said he would be working to "bring our party back together which has been bruised and battered this week."

He also mentioned the drought that has been plaguing parts of Australia, describing it as "our most urgent and pressing need right now."

What can we expect from Scott Morrison as PM?

Australians can expect much of Mr Morrison's decisions to be influenced by his religious background.

He has spoken in the past about wanting to ensure greater religious freedoms.

Economically, Mr Morrison is neo-liberal and he wants to dismantle Australia's income tax system.

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