Malcolm Turnbull sworn in as Australian prime minister

Canberra: Malcolm Turnbull, an urbane former investment banker who supports marriage equality and action on climate change, was sworn in as Australia`s 29th prime minister on Tuesday, a day after ousting longtime rival Tony Abbott in a party room coup.

Turnbull, a Rhodes Scholar who previously led the Australian Republican Movement, was sworn in by Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove, the representative of Britain`s Queen Elizabeth, Australia`s head of state. 

Turnbull`s Liberal Party and its junior coalition partner the National Party won a landslide election in 2013 but Abbott was jettisoned by his party after a series of perceived policy missteps and destabilising infighting.