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Tony Abbott sworn in as Australia prime minister | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Tony Abbott has been sworn in as Australia's prime minister, days after his Liberal-National coalition ended six years of Labor government. | |
Mr Abbott, 55, took the oath at Government House in Canberra in front of Governor-General Quentin Bryce. | |
His conservative coalition won a comfortable lower house majority in the 7 September polls. | |
Ahead of the ceremony, Mr Abbott said his government would get straight down to business. | |
"Today is not just a ceremonial day, it's an action day," he said. | |
"As soon as I return to Parliament House from the swearing-in ceremony, I will instruct the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to prepare the carbon tax repeal legislation." | |
Mr Abbott unveiled his new 19-member cabinet on Monday - a line-up that caused debate after it emerged that there was only one woman, foreign minister Julie Bishop. | |
However, Mr Abbott said that his cabinet was "one of the most experienced incoming ministries in our history". | However, Mr Abbott said that his cabinet was "one of the most experienced incoming ministries in our history". |
The new ministers will be sworn in later in the day. | |
As well as the carbon tax repeal, Mr Abbott say his government will put the budget back into surplus and turn back boats bringing asylum seekers from across Asia via Indonesia. | |
But - with some votes still to be counted - it appears that the coalition will not control the Senate, meaning it may struggle to pass key legislation. | |
Meanwhile the Labor Party is in the process of choosing a new leader, with both former deputy prime minister Anthony Albanese and powerbroker Bill Shorten vying to replace Kevin Rudd, who is stepping down. | Meanwhile the Labor Party is in the process of choosing a new leader, with both former deputy prime minister Anthony Albanese and powerbroker Bill Shorten vying to replace Kevin Rudd, who is stepping down. |