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September 21, 2015

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Turnbull names Morrison as treasurer

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull yesterday appointed Scott Morrison treasurer, handing the conservative lawmaker the top economic job in his new cabinet in an effort to mend party divisions following the ouster of Tony Abbott.

Morrison won both praise and condemnation as immigration minister for his ruthlessly efficient implementation of Australia鈥檚 policy of turning back boatloads of asylum seekers arriving from Asia. Most recently, Morrison had been tasked with steering through difficult welfare reforms as social services minister. Other changes in the much anticipated cabinet reshuffle were the appointment of Maris Payne as defence minister, one of five women in the new cabinet, and former Education Minister Christopher Pyne as industry, innovation and science minister.

鈥淭oday, I鈥檓 announcing a 21st century government and a ministry for the future,鈥 Turnbull told reporters in Canberra. 鈥淰ery big changes to meet very big challenges to help all of us seize very big opportunities.鈥

Turnbull鈥檚 Liberal Party and its junior coalition partner, the National Party, won a landslide election in 2013 under Abbott, promising stability, economic reform and to stop asylum seekers arriving by boat.

Abbott was ditched last week after months of destabilizing infighting and a series of gaffes and perceived policy missteps.

Turnbull, a multimillionaire former investment banker, lawyer and technology entrepreneur, is Australia鈥檚 fourth prime minister in just two years.

A liberal in favor of marriage equality and action on climate change, Turnbull is popular among the business community and wider electorate but held in deep suspicion by some right-wing members of his ruling coalition. His rise to power gave the Liberals a lift in opinion polls and was credited with helping them in their weekend by-election win.

Veteran political commentator Malcolm Mackerras said the new cabinet should give the government a boost as it heads into elections expected next year. 鈥淚 think Turnbull will lead them to a second victory,鈥 he said.

Along with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Trade Minister Andrew Robb, who retained their portfolios, Morrison, 47, was seen as one of the few stars of the Abbott government.


 

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