Does Australia’s New PM Really Represent A Change From Tony Abbott?

Australia’s new prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has revealed he has Jewish roots. The vote would not be binding, but if a majority of Australians favor marriage equality, as recent polls show they do, Parliament would likely vote it into law. “Australia wants this off the table and frankly Malcolm Turnbull wants this off the table”, he continued.

The snap vote came after Turnbull publicly challenged Abbott earlier on Monday, criticizing the latter’s leadership style and his inability to pass reforms in parliament.

At a press conference this morning, Mr Turnbull told reporters he would be making announcements on the make up of his cabinet would become clear when new ministers are sworn in on Monday.

He said he was proud of what his government had achieved, while also taking swipes at party members who had leaked to the media and carried out “a sour, bitter character assassination”.

In challenging Mr Abbott’s leadership, Mr Turnbull indirectly attacked Mr Hockey with the criticism that “the government is not successful in providing the economic leadership that we need”.

Tony Abbott, the 28 Prime Minister of Australia, was defeated by Malcolm Turnbull in a dramatic party room vote yesterday.

Abbott has continued to defy popular opinion inside and outside his party, despite pledging to be more consultative, blocking his MPs from supporting same-sex marriage, and announcing an emissions reduction target criticised as inadequate by environmental groups. His forward-looking views on issues like climate change, gay marriage, republicanism and immigration put him at odds with Abbott.

Although regarded as a more accomplished negotiator than Tony Abbott, Mr Turnbull will not necessarily find it any easier to convince the Senate cross bench to pass government legislation.

“We have to recognise that the disruption that we see driven by technology, the volatility in change is our friend if we are agile and smart enough to take advantage of it”, Turnbull said.

It comes at the same time as a Senate report, which says the issue would be best resolved through a vote in Parliament.