Scott ‘stop the boats’ Morrison is Australia’s new prime minister
Scott Morrison rose to public prominence when the conservative coalition government was first elected under Prime Minister Tony Abbott in 2013 as the minister who stopped asylum seekers from attempting to reach Australian shores by boat
Evangelical Christian Scott Morrison, who emerged as prime minister after a bun fight in Australia’s ruling party Friday, is an ambitious man who has always dreamed of the top job.
Behind the scenes of a battle for the leadership of the Liberal Party that erupted this week between ousted Malcolm Turnbull and right-wing former policeman Peter Dutton, Morrison was quietly canvassing support among his colleagues.
The hardline former immigration minister, who took credit for “stop the boats” – a harsh policy to prevent asylum seekers from entering Australia at its seaports – billed himself as a man of faith and family who could get things done.
The 50-year-old’s stealth candidacy reflected aspirations he has had since he entered parliament in 2007, representing the Sydney seat of Cook – the site of Australia’s last race riots.
The son of a policeman, Morrison – known as “ScoMo” – becomes Australia’s seventh prime minister in 11 years, replacing a man who became the latest in a long line of leaders knifed in the back by their allies.