Malcolm Turnbull was sworn in for another term as Australia's prime minister Tuesday after a narrow election victory with budget repair and a public vote on same sex marriage among his top priorities.
The multi-millionaire former banker's Liberal/National coalition clung to power in closely-fought July 2 polls, with the party holding 76 seats, and potentially one more with counting still underway, in the 150-seat House of Representatives.
While enough to retain office, it was a far from convincing win for the tech-savvy grandfather, as the conservative coalition lost its comfortable majority.
It has raised questions over whether he can govern successfully, with the Labor opposition increasing its lower house seats and a higher number of minor party and independent senators to contend with in the upper house.
Turnbull was sworn in at Government House in Canberra by Governor General Peter Cosgrove, Queen Elizabeth II's representative in Australia, and has broadly stuck with the same team of ministers he took to the election.
That means no front bench role for Tony Abbott, the man he ousted in a party coup last September.
Notable changes see former Innovation, Science and Industry Minister Christopher Pyne become defence industry minister, giving him oversight of the nation's naval ship building, including its Aus$50 billion future submarine program, which France will help build.
His old portfolio is taken by former environment minister Greg Hunt, who makes way for Josh Frydenberg in a move broadly welcomed by environmentalists.
"Budget repair is absolutely critical," Turnbull said in laying out his top priority.
Standard & Poor's revised Australia's triple-A rating outlook to negative following the vote, concerned the tight result and more crossbench politicians in the Senate could hamper a return to surplus.
Millions of Australians cast their ballots for independents and minor parties, resulting in them winning five seats in the lower house.
It is a similar story in the Senate, with anti-immigration firebrand Pauline Hanson making a return to Canberra after an absence of nearly 20 years.
Turnbull campaigned on his economic credentials as the country transitions from a mining investment boom and focuses on job creation and diversifying the economy, as well as his tough asylum-seeker policies and a plan to hold a referendum on gay marriage.
He told broadcaster ABC on Monday evening he planned to hold the gay marriage vote "as soon as practicable".
Australia's politics has been turbulent in recent years, with a "revolving door" of prime ministers in charge. Four different leaders have served since 2013 as parties removed sitting prime ministers.
AFP
Tue Jul 19 2016
Turnbull was sworn in at Government House in Canberra by Governor General Peter Cosgrove, Queen Elizabeth II's representative in Australia, and has broadly stuck with the same team of ministers he took to the election. - AFP File Photo
Ballon d'Or bakal jadi milik Jude Bellingham - Michael Owen
Bellingham telah mencipta lebih banyak peluang berbanding pemain lain dalam aksi Liga Juara-juara Eropa (UCL), musim ini.
Puluhan ribu pelajar di Brazil tidak bersekolah akibat banjir
Daripada lebih 2,000 sekolah awam negeri Rio Grande do Sul, hampir satu perlima masih ditutup melibatkan kira-kira 185,000 pelajar.
Wanita maut selepas suntikan besarkan payudara
Keluarga mangsa telah membuat laporan kepada pihak berkuasa dan kini polis berjaya menahan dua orang pelaku yang bakal dikenakan hukuman.
Iran namakan jalan, lebuh raya sempena Raisi dan Amirabdollahian
Tehran telah memutuskan untuk menamakan dua jalan dan sebuah lebuh raya sempena Ebrahim Raisi dan Hossein Amirabdollahian.
Chef Wan mohon maaf, kenyataan disalah anggap
Chef Selebriti, Datuk Redzuawan, 66, atau mesra disapa Chef Wan tidak menyangka komen gurauannya mengenai gaun pakaian dipakai bintang Bollywood, Aishwarya Rai disalah anggap segelintir pihak.
Pelajar tidak duduki SPM dipelawa mohon GiatMARA
Pelajar yang tidak menduduki Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2023 dipelawa memohon latihan di GiatMARA.
Pengerusi Mara, Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, berkata 10,160 pelajar yang tidak hadir SPM tahun lalu boleh mengikuti program di 232 cawangan GiatMARA seluruh negara.
Pengerusi Mara, Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, berkata 10,160 pelajar yang tidak hadir SPM tahun lalu boleh mengikuti program di 232 cawangan GiatMARA seluruh negara.
'My Translate', terjemahan pintar buatan tempatan
Institut Terjemahan dan Buku Malaysia (ITBM) dan Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) PADA RABU, memeterai memorandum persefahaman (MoU), bagi membangunkan sistem terjemahan pintar dikuasakan kecerdasan buatan (AI), 'MyTranslate'.
Singapura jamin beri kerjasama kepengerusian ASEAN 2025
Singapura memberi jaminan untuk bekerjasama dengan Malaysia dalam menyokong kepengerusian ASEAN oleh Malaysian pada tahun depan.
Menteri Pertama Scotland desak UK iktiraf Palestin
John Swinney juga mahu UK henti penjualan senjata kepada Israel.
Puluhan ribu pelajar di Brazil tidak bersekolah akibat banjir
Lebih sebulan puluhan ribu pelajar di selatan Brazil tidak melihat bilik darjah mereka selepas banjir besar menenggelamkan beberapa buah sekolah dan menjadikan yang lain sebagai tempat perlindungan.
Perkara itu dikhuatiri menimbulkan kebimbangan mengenai kesihatan mental mereka.
Perkara itu dikhuatiri menimbulkan kebimbangan mengenai kesihatan mental mereka.