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Agencies

Donald Trump, the Indonesian president and Australia’s drought-stricken farmers were on Scott Morrison’s agenda on his first day as prime minister.
A day after replacing Malcolm Turnbull following a ballot among parliamentarians from the ruling Liberal Party, Morrison had what he called a “great” phone conversation with the US president.
“Had a great discussion with @realDonaldTrump this morning,” Morrison tweeted Saturday.
“We affirmed the strength of the relationship between the US and Australia.”
Trump had earlier tweeted: “Congratulations to new Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. There are no greater friends than the United States and Australia!”

Congratulations to new Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. There are no greater friends than the United States and Australia!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2018

Trump made no mention of Turnbull, with whom he has had a famously rocky relationship.
In August last year, The Washington Post published extracts from a phone call between Trump and Turnbull, which reportedly became heated.
Morrison, who also spoke by phone to Joko Widodo, president of Australia’s neighbour Indonesia, may meet Trump in person in November at a Pacific Rim summit in Papua New Guinea. A representative from the prime minister’s office said Morrison had invited Trump to visit Australia during what was described as a “warm” conversation.
Australia’s new prime minister Scott Morrison: bad news for China? Ask Huawei
Australia’s 30th prime minister spent his first full day in office in meetings to sort out his Cabinet, with the only announcement so far being that new deputy Liberal Party leader Josh Frydenberg would take over Morrison’s role as treasurer.


Speculation was mounting that incumbent Foreign Minister Julie Bishop could follow Turnbull by quitting politics, after her unsuccessful run at the leadership in Friday’s party vote, in which Morrison eventually beat Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, 45 votes to 40.
Morrison made brief public comments Saturday before meeting in Canberra, the capital, with farmers battling a severe drought that is affecting Australia’s most populous state, New South Wales, in particular.
“There are many challenges our country has – our economic security, our national security,” Morrison said.
“I had the opportunity this morning to speak with President Trump and President Widodo, (I) will say about that another time. But (the) really important meeting in our country right at the moment is dealing with the drought.”

But while Morrison put on a positive and upbeat public face, many Australians were still seething after his elevation to the prime ministership by his party, in a vote initiated to try to boost the Liberals’ chances of holding power in the next election.
Scott ‘stop the boats’ Morrison is Australia’s new prime minister
Turnbull is the fourth prime minister – from both the conservative Liberal Party and more leftist Labor Party – to be dumped by his or her own party before serving a full three-year term since this modern trend of leader-swapping began in 2010.
Social media was still abuzz Saturday with widespread anger and dismay that the country had a new leader without the public having had a say.
Prominent actor Magda Szubanski, star of the hit 1995 movie Babe, spoke for many when she tweeted: “Well, if it wasn’t clear before, it is crystal clear after the events of this week … what the people want counts for zero. It doesn’t matter who we like, who we vote for or what policies we want. It is ALL about politicians’ own agendas.”

Well, if it wasn’t clear before, it is crystal clear after the events of this week...what the people want counts for zero. It doesn’t matter who we like, who we vote for or what policies we want. It is ALL about politicians’ own agendas. #auspol #LibSpill
— Magda Szubanski (@MagdaSzubanski) August 25, 2018

Others were even more scathing, with many expressing a wish that the nation’s politicians would concentrate on doing what they were elected to do – run the country – rather than become derailed by in-party factional fighting and, of course, leadership spills.
Many urged Morrison to call an early election to let the public make its choice.
While The Sydney Morning Herald lamented on Friday that Australian democracy was now “a laughing stock”, humorists continued to gain mileage out of this latest leadership coup.
A meme widely spread on social media featuring American comedian Drew Carey said: “Welcome to Australia -where voting is compulsory and the results don’t matter.”

There was disquiet, too, within the Liberal Party. More than one Liberal member of Parliament attacked their former prime minister Tony Abbott – the parliamentarian seen as having engineered Friday’s vote to topple Turnbull, who had himself replaced Abbott in the top job in the Liberals’ previous internal coup in 2015.
Liberal lawmakers Andrew Laming and Warren Entsch urged Abbott to resign.
“I think his mission is accomplished,” Entsch told News Corporation.
“He has got rid of his nemesis. Everything there was purely about revenge.”
Abbott, however, appeared unrepentant in a brief meeting with reporters in Sydney on Saturday, pledging to give Morrison his “total support”.
The Guardian, Associated Press, Reuters


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Australia

New Australia PM Scott Morrison makes drought his priority as Donald Trump tweets congratulations

Scott Morrison emerged as the surprise winner of a party-room vote to replace Turnbull after a week of political chaos in Canberra that marked the emergence of Australia’s sixth prime minister in less than 10 years.

Social media was still abuzz Saturday with widespread anger and dismay that Australia had a new leader without the public having had a say. A meme widely spread on social media featuring American comedian Drew Carey said: “Welcome to Australia -where voting is compulsory and the results don’t matter.”

New Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (L) poses for photos with his wife Jenny Morrison (R) and their two daughters Abbey and Lily as they arrive at Government House after he was sworn into office in Canberra on August 24, 2018. - Scott Morrison was sworn in as Australia's seventh prime minister in 11 years on August 24 after a stunning party revolt against Malcolm Turnbull, which the new leader admitted had left the government "bruised and battered". (Photo by SAEED KHAN / AFP)

Australia’s latest leader, Scott Morrison (centre), spoke with President Donald Trump, organised his Cabinet and met drought-affected farmers on Saturday as the backlash continued over yet another prime minister selected by an internal party vote. Photo: EPA

Australia’s new prime minister Scott Morrison: bad news for China? Ask Huawei

The new leader in Canberra was a key member of the Turnbull government that, much to Beijing’s displeasure, introduced foreign interference laws. But he also has a history of talking up the two countries’ relationship

Scott Morrison. Photo: AP

Australia's outgoing Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull walks back with his granddaughter after a press conference in Canberra on August 24, 2018. - Tresurer Scott Morrison was installed as Australia's seventh prime minister in 11 years on August 24 after a stunning Liberal party revolt instigated by hardline conservatives unseated moderate Malcolm Turnbull. (Photo by SAEED KHAN / AFP)

***PAY PER USE. Please re-download from vendor website.*** Shutterstock ID Sydney, Australia - March 25, 2017: Chinese living in Australia welcome Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in town with banners, giant flags and lots of noise at corner of York Street. Photo: Shutterstock

Scott Morrison with Malcolm Turnbull, whom he is replacing as Australian prime minister. Photo: EPA

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Scott Morrison emerged as the surprise winner of a party-room vote to replace Turnbull after a week of political chaos in Canberra that marked the emergence of Australia’s sixth prime minister in less than 10 years.
