Scott Morrison becomes new Australian PM after party coup forces Turnbull to resign

Scott Morrison today became Australia's new prime minister after emerging victorious in a leadership contest for the Liberal Party following a political coup against Malcolm Turnbull, ending days of political chaos in the country.

Morrison, 50, who has been serving as the country's treasurer, defeated former home affairs minister Peter Dutton by 45 votes to 40 at the closed- door leadership vote.

The vote was the second challenge this week to the leadership of Turnbull who himself assumed office by leading a party revolt in 2015.

Morrison is the sixth prime minister of Australia in just over ten years.

Turnbull stepped down after receiving a petition from a majority of Liberal lawmakers demanding a ballot to select a new leader.

Morrison will lead the conservative party, which is known as the Liberal Party, in a general election expected in the coming months.

The governor-general, Peter Cosgrove, sworn-in Morrison as the 30th prime minister of Australia.

Morrison promised to "bring the Parliament back together."