EMBATTLED prime minister Malcolm Turnbull was replaced by his treasurer (or finance minister) Scott Morrison today, just two days after defeating backbencher Peter Dutton’s leadership challenge.

Former home affairs minister Mr Dutton, who pledged loyalty to Mr Turnbull on Monday, saying: “The Prime Minister has my support and I support the policies of the government,” was backed by the conservative Liberal Party’s hard-right faction.

This faction has promoted party disunity by espousing Islamophobia, anti-immigration, opposition to equal marriage and attacks on the science of climate change.