Mr Turnbull promised a "thoroughly Liberal" government and new economic vision committed to freedom, the individual and the market. Prime Minister designate Malcolm Turnbull with re-elected deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop on Monday night. Credit:Andrew Meares He also vowed to persuade voters, rather than lecture them. Mr Turnbull's victory is reminiscent of the coup former prime minister Julia Gillard staged against Kevin Rudd in 2010 and makes the former communications minister Australia's fifth prime minister in just over five years. Liberal MPs gathered at Parliament House at 9.15pm to decide whether Mr Abbott or Mr Turnbull would lead them to the next election.

Ahead of the ballot, both camps were confident of having the numbers but chief whip Scott Buccholz announced Mr Turnbull had prevailed over Mr Abbott 54-44. One Liberal voted informally and another was absent. Malcolm Turnbull and supporters arrives for the leadership ballot. Credit:Andrew Meares Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has been elected deputy, defeating a challenge by Kevin Andrews 70-30. The drama began just after question time when Mr Turnbull paid a visit to Mr Abbott requesting a leadership ballot on Tuesday morning. Earlier, Ms Bishop had told Mr Abbott he had lost the support of his partyroom and of the cabinet and urged him to quit or hold a ballot. Prime Minister Tony Abbott arrives for a partyroom meeting on the leadership flanked by supporters. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Abbott responded by urging his colleagues not to follow Labor in ditching a first-term prime minister and declared he would win the ballot, which he scheduled for Monday night. He left the party room with Finance Minister Mathias Cormann and the New South Wales backbencher Karen Macnamara. One Liberal source told Fairfax Media that after his defeat Mr Abbott warned his colleagues about the rigours of the job and warned they were tests a more "febrile" and "lesser man" might not endure. This was widely interpreted as being aimed at Mr Turnbull, who is known for his temper. Deputy government whip Andrew Nikolic arrives to the partyroom with the ballot boxes. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Mr Abbott also complained of he and his Treasurer Joe Hockey being undermined. Joe Hockey is certain to be dumped as Treasurer and replaced with Scott Morrison, who said he would be supporting Mr Abbott but had declined to run as his deputy.

Illustration: Ron Tandberg Ms Bishop also said she would no longer serve as Mr Abbott's deputy and instead ran as Mr Turnbull's running mate. Speaking at the same media conference with Mr Turnbull, Ms Bishop said she was honoured to continue serving as deputy and said she would also continue as the Foreign Minister. The leadership change paves the way for a major reshuffle of the cabinet and provides Mr Turnbull with the opportunity to reshape the government with more Liberal moderates and women in the top jobs. Mr Turnbull said he would meet with the ministry on Tuesday morning but any reshuffle delayed until next week.

He promised to run a more consultative style of government and said the Australian prime minister should be the "first amongst equals" and not treated like a President. "The culture of our government is going to be one that is thoroughly consultative … a thoroughly traditional consultative cabinet government that ensures we make decisions in a collaborative manner," he said. The former barrister and journalist's astonishing political comeback is a complete turnaround from his situation six years ago, when he was dumped as party leader for Mr Abbott in bitter dispute over climate change policy. Two Liberal right-wing senators who were bitterly opposed to Mr Turnbull in 2009, Victorians Mitch Fifield and Scott Ryan, entered the partyroom meeting alongside Mr Turnbull. Mr Abbott, in contrast, was accompanied by two female backbenchers and a throng of ministers behind him, including Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton and Small Business Minister Bruce Billson.

Mr Turnbull quit parliament in 2010, only to be talked back into staying by former Liberal prime minister John Howard. Mr Howard's chief of staff, and now senator, Arthur Sinodinos, was instrumental in forging Mr Turnbull's political resurrection and his chief number cruncher. Earlier on Monday, Mr Abbott addressed reporters and said he had been "dismayed by the destabilisation that's been taking place now for many, many months". Mr Abbott warned his colleagues the prime ministership was not a "prize or a plaything to be demanded". "It should be something which is earned by a vote of the Australian people," Mr Abbott said. Loading "There will be a party room ballot for both the leadership and deputy leadership positions later this evening. I will be a candidate and I expect to win."