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Tony Abbott sworn in as Australia prime minister Tony Abbott sworn in as Australia prime minister
(about 1 hour later)
Tony Abbott has been sworn in as Australia's prime minister, days after his Liberal-National coalition ended six years of Labor government.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.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.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. It plans to scrap a tax on carbon emissions introduced by Labor and further toughen asylum policy.
"Today is not just a ceremonial day, it's an action day," he said. Ahead of Wednesday's ceremony, Mr Abbott said his government would get to work immediately.
"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." "Today is not just a ceremonial day, it's an action day," he said. "The Australian people expect us to get straight down to business and that's exactly what this government will do."
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. The new ministers were also being sworn in during the day. His 19-member cabinet line-up has caused debate because it contains only one woman, new Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.
However, Mr Abbott said that his cabinet was "one of the most experienced incoming ministries in our history". Mr Abbott, however, says his cabinet is "one of the most experienced incoming ministries in our history".
The new ministers will be sworn in later in the day. 'Stop the boats'
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. The new prime minister said on Tuesday that the carbon tax would be his first task.
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. "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," he said in a statement.
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. Instead of the tax, he plans to introduce a "direct action" plan under which subsidies will be given to farmers and businesses to reduce their emissions.
The science minister role has been scrapped and a number of climate bodies are also expected to be closed - a move that has prompted criticism from Australia's chief scientist, Professor Ian Chubb.
"These sorts of issues are not going away just because we ignore them," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
The new prime minister also says tough new policies to end the flow of asylum-seekers arriving in Australia via Indonesia will come into effect today.
Under a Labor policy, all asylum-seekers arriving by boat are being sent to Papua New Guinea for processing and resettlement if found to be refugees.
Mr Abbott is maintaining this policy and has promised to "stop the boats" - turning them back to Indonesia where safe to do so, a policy over which Indonesia has voiced concern.
He is expected to place the deputy chief of the army in charge of combating people smugglers, and his government will also restrict refugees already in Australia to temporary protection visas which must be regularly renewed.
Rights groups have criticised both the previous and incoming governments' policies on asylum.
But - with some votes still to be counted from the 7 September election - it appears that the coalition will not control the Senate, meaning it may struggle to pass key legislation.
It is expected that the new government will have to work with several minor parties to get bills passed in the upper house.
The Labor Party, meanwhile, 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.