Scott ‘Stop the Boats’ Morrison: who is Australia’s new prime minister?
Sydney — Evangelical Christian Scott Morrison, who emerged as prime minister after a bun fight in Australia’s ruling party Friday, is an ambitious man who has always dreamed of the top job. Behind the scenes of a battle for the leadership of the Liberal party that erupted this week between ousted Malcolm Turnbull and right-wing former policeman Peter Dutton, Morrison was quietly canvassing support among his colleagues. The hardline former immigration minister, who took credit for "stop the boats" — a harsh policy to prevent asylum-seekers from entering Australia at its sea ports — billed himself as a man of faith and family who could get things done. The 50-year-old’s stealth candidacy reflected aspirations he has had since he entered parliament in 2007, representing the Sydney seat of Cook — the site of Australia’s last race riots. The son of a policeman, Morrison — known as "ScoMo" — becomes Australia’s seventh prime minister in 11 years, replacing a man who became the latest in a...
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