Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott ousted in party vote

Australian conservative Prime Minister Tony Abbott was dramatically ousted Monday in a snap party vote mounted by challenger Malcolm Turnbull, the country’s fourth leadership change in five years.

Mr Abbott, who came to power in a general election victory in 2013, was forced into a leadership ballot among his Liberal Party colleagues after Mr Turnbull said the coalition government faced defeat without change at the top.

After his 54-44 victory, Mr Turnbull, a multi-millionaire former lawyer and banker, pledged to bring “economic vision” to the nation, but ruled out an unscheduled nationwide election to cement his leadership.

“This has been a very important, sobering experience today. I’m very humbled by it,” he said. “We need to have in this country, and we will have now, an economic vision, a leadership that explains the great challenges and opportunities that we face.” Mr Abbott, whose views on gay marriage and climate change had divided many, made no comment.