Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been ousted as leader of the country’s Liberal Party and will be replaced by Malcolm Turnbull following a leadership vote Monday night.
Turnbull previously served as leader of the party from 2008-2009 before being replaced by Abbott in a similar upset. The Sydney Morning Herald notes that Turnbull’s ascension “makes the former communications minister Australia’s fifth prime minister in just over five years.”
Turnbull, unlike Abbott, is a supporter of marriage equality, as evidenced by this 2012 segment on Australia’s Q&A panel program:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr5CArwYqGM
The Guardian has more:
Turnbull has been the people’s choice to lead the Liberals because he stood out as a politician with the courage of his convictions. But it is those same convictions – in favour of a republic, same-sex marriage and a climate policy that reduces emissions in a cost-effective way – that many of his colleagues hate.
The biggest challenge of his prime ministership will be how he keeps the voters’ faith in his conviction-politician credibility, and also the faith of the party room who elected him and could depose him at any time – just like they did last time. […]
Turnbull has reportedly told colleagues he will stick with his party’s plans for a national referendum on same-sex marriage.
Watch Turnbull speak after winning the leadership ballot below:
Last month, Australia’s former prime minister Julia Gillard made an about-face on the issue of marriage equality, telling a crowd in a speech at the College of Law and Justice in Melbourne that her “idiosyncratic” vote against same-sex marriage (while she had any power to do anything about it) was the wrong one.
Get Towleroad Headlines Daily.
News daily from one of the most trusted, independent, lgbtq owned and operated media outlets. Covering news, entertainment, science, media, art and more for almost 17 years.