Scott Morrison to be Australian PM as Malcolm Turnbull ousted

Mr Morrison, the treasurer, won an internal ballot 45-40 over former Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton – who had been Mr Turnbull’s most vocal threat.

Mr Turnbull is the fourth Australian PM in a decade to be ousted internally.

“It has been such a privilege to be the leader of this great nation. I love Australia. I love Australians,” he said on Friday.

Why was Turnbull forced out?

With an election looming, MPs were nervous about the government’s poor opinion polling and recent by-election defeats.

Who is Morrison?

Mr Morrison, a former Tourism Australia official, entered parliament in 2007 and has since held three key ministerial portfolios.

A social conservative who appeals to the moderate elements of the Liberal party

Rose to national prominence as immigration minister in Tony Abbott’s government

Built a reputation as a tough operator in enforcing Australia’s hardline “stop the boats” policy

Drew criticism over the controversial asylum seeker policies and offshore detention centres

Seen as a pragmatic, ambitious politician who has long eyed the top job

The 50-year old father-of-two is a leading religious conservatives and opposed last year’s same-sex marriage bill.