Malcolm Turnbull (L, back), former Australian Minister for Communications, and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop attend a press conference in Canberra, Australia, Sept. 14, 2015. Malcolm Turnbull, former Australian Minister for Communications, won the party room ballot Monday night to replace Tony Abbott as the leader of the ruling Liberal Party and thus is to become Australia's 29th prime minister. (Xinhua/Zhao Bo)
CANBERRA, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Former Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull was sworn in as Australia's new prime minister on Tuesday one day after Tony Abbott was defeated in a ruling Liberal Party's leadership ballot.
Turnbull was sworn in at a ceremony by Governor-General Peter Cosgrove in the capital of Canberra.
"There's been a change of prime minister, but we are a very strong government, a very strong country with a great potential and we will realize that potential working very hard together," Turnbull told reporters.
Shortly before Turnbull was sworn in, Abbott, who lost the ballot 54-45 Monday night, thanked the public and his family for the opportunity to serve the nation.
"I thank my country for the privilege of service. It is humbling to lose, but that does not compare to the honor of being asked to lead," he said.
"Leadership changes are never easy for our country. I pledge to make this change as easy as I can. There'll be no wrecking, undermining or sniping."
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News Analysis: Abbott's blunders as Australian PM pave way for Turnbull coup
by Matt Walsh
CANBERRA, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- As Tony Abbott continued to flounder as Australia's prime minister, his dwindling popularity reflected in increasingly grim poll results, and the 2016 election began to loom large on the horizon, it was probably only a matter of time before a challenger emerged from the Liberal Party ranks.
But the speed with which Malcolm Turnbull launched his challenge on Monday, and then spectacularly secured the party leadership and therefore the prime ministership in a spill that night, surprised just about every political observer in Canberra. Full story
CANBERRA, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop has shed light on Tony Abbott's dismissal as Prime Minister, saying how informing him of Malcolm Turnbull's leadership challenge was the "toughest thing" she has had to do since becoming a politician.
Telling morning TV, the deputy leader said "there were tears shed" as she delivered news to Abbott that he had lost the faith of his party, and that as Abbott's deputy, it was her role to inform the prime minister of Turnbull's desire to force a leadership ballot. Full story
Malcolm Turnbull wins party ballot to become Australian Prime Minister
CANBERRA, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Malcolm Turnbull, former Australian Minister for Communications, won the party room ballot Monday night to replace Tony Abbott as the leader of the ruling Liberal Party and thus is to become Australia's 29th prime minister.
Turnbull grabbed 54 of the Liberal parliamentarian votes, 10 more than the votes Abbott managed to get. Full story
