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Australia to get new PM after Abbott loses challenge

Australia is to get a new prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, after embattled leader Tony Abbott lost a challenge for the leadership of the Liberal Party, the senior partner in the ruling conservative coalition.

The former communications minister, Malcolm Turnbull, is to become Australia’s 29th prime minister after defeating Abbott in party room spill with 54 votes to 44.

Turnbull is expected to be sworn in as prime minister by Australia’s governor-general Peter Cosgrove on Tuesday.

Julie Bishop, the foreign minister, who had reportedly sided with Turnbull to call on Abbott to quit earlier in the day, has retained her position as deputy leader of the Liberal Party by 70 votes to 30.

In the current parliament, whoever leads the Liberal Party becomes prime minister as head of the conservative coalition in which it is the senior partner.

(Al Jazeera)

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