Out with Abbott, in with Turnbull
September 14, 2015
In a late night voting session on Monday, the Liberal Party of Australia elected former lawyer and businessman Malcolm Turnbull as its new leader. The Liberal Party is generally conservative on social issues. It favors limited government control over the country’s economy. Turnbull replaced Prime Minister Tony Abbott as the party head, and will soon become prime minister.
Tony Abbott became prime minister of Australia in 2013.
Abbott became prime minister following a 2013 general election. A major focus of his election campaign was to repeal a tax on carbon dioxide emissions introduced in 2012 under Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Abbott argued that the tax, which imposed a fee on greenhouse gas emissions produced by the country’s highest polluting companies, would be bad for the economy and result in higher energy costs. In July 2014, the Australian Parliament repealed the carbon tax.
Abbott worked to expand Australia’s economy. His government signed free trade agreements with China, Japan, and South Korea to increase Australia’s exports of agricultural and other goods.
Abbott’s approval rating fell in 2015, and Turnbull called a party election to challenge for the leadership role. Turnbull accused Abbott of not successfully guiding Australia’s economic policies. Liberal Party members of Parliament voted 54-44 in favor of Turnbull, who had previously led the party from 2008 to 2009.
