Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Abbott sworn in as Australia's new Prime Minister

Abbott immediately ordered that the country’s carbon tax be scrapped, and asylum-seeker boats be halted.

TONY ABBOTT WAS as sworn in as Australia’s new prime minister today and immediately ordered the scrapping of the nation’s carbon tax and the halting of asylum-seeker boats.

The 55-year-old conservative launched straight into work with a cabinet meeting after the ceremony at Government House in Canberra where his Liberal/National government officially brought six years of Labor rule to a close.

“Today is not just a ceremonial day, it’s an action day. The Australian people expect us to get straight down to business and that’s exactly what this government will do,” said Abbott.

imageAbbott, second from right, smiles before the first meeting of his full ministry in the Cabinet Room of Parliament House in Canberra. Pic: AP Photo/Penny Bradfield, Pool

In presenting his frontbench team to Governor-General Quentin Bryce, he added: “We will be a problem-solving government based on value, not ideology.”

Carbon tax

Abbott was elected on September 7 on a pledge to quickly scrap taxes on corporate pollution and mining profits imposed under Labor, as well as introducing a costly paid parental leave scheme and a vow to build new roads across the vast nation.

Top of his to-do list is axing the unpopular carbon tax, which charges the country’s biggest polluters for their emissions at a fixed price.

His government instead favours a “direct action” plan that includes an emissions reduction fund to pay companies to increase their energy efficiency, and money for schemes to replenish soil carbon and plant 20 million trees.

Abbott, who once said that evidence blaming mankind for climate change was “absolute crap”, said he would immediately instruct officials “to prepare the carbon tax repeal legislation”.

‘A message to the people-smugglers’

Another central plank of his election campaign was stopping asylum-seeker boats. His policy of using the navy to tow them back to Indonesia – their typical point of transit – came into effect today, and could prove to be an early test of his mettle.

“It’s so important that we send a message to the people-smugglers that, from today, their business model is coming to an end,” Abbott said.

imageTony Abbott, second from left, poses with Governor General Quentin Bryce, second from right, his deputy Warren Truss, right, and Senator George Brandis, left. Pic: AP Photo/Penny Bradfield

The military tow-back is part of Operation Sovereign Borders, which is widely expected to be led by Deputy Chief of Army Angus Campbell, a former special forces commander, reporting directly to new Immigration Minister Scott Morrison.

It includes a proposal to embed Australian police in Indonesia, buy up fishing boats to keep them out of people-smugglers’ hands, and pay locals for intelligence – plans that have received a cool reception in Jakarta.

Counting of postal votes is still under way after the election, but the conservatives are on track to win 90 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives to Labor’s 55.

imageAbbott, center, left of table, leads the first meeting of his full ministry in the Cabinet Room of Parliament House. Pic: AP Photo/Penny Bradfield, Pool

It gives Abbott a clear majority, although the makeup of the upper house of parliament is not yet apparent, with the likelihood that six to seven minor party candidates could secure seats to hold the balance of power – complicating the new government’s legislative push.

The new prime minister and his key ministers were sworn in by Bryce 11 days after Abbott’s overwhelming victory over Kevin Rudd and he wasted no time asserting his authority, axing three high-profile public service department heads and making two new appointments.

While Abbott has kept a low profile since the polls, he has been criticised for naming just one woman in his 19-person front-bench – Julie Bishop as foreign minister. The previous Labor government had six women in cabinet.

He has also attracted criticism, including from his own party, for streamlining his ministry, with key portfolios such as water, climate change, science and aged care wrapped into other portfolios.

Other ministers sworn in included Joe Hockey as treasurer, George Brandis as attorney-general, and Nationals leader Warren Truss as deputy prime minister.

- © AFP, 2013

Read: Tony Abbott channels Enda and declares: ‘Australia is open for business’>

Read: Australian PM Kevin Rudd concedes election to this man>

Author
View 29 comments
Close
29 Comments
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
    JournalTv
    News in 60 seconds