ANDREW Barr has congratulated Malcolm Turnbull on his elevation to the leadership of the federal Liberal party and his imminent appointment as the Prime Minister of Australia.

“Last night Mr Turnbull rightly pointed out that it is a very exciting time in Australia,” Andrew said.

“Our country needs strong leadership from the federal Government, and I hope Mr Turnbull will bring this leadership and face some of the economic challenges the nation is experiencing.

“Now is the time for serious progress on a number of key areas that impact upon Canberrans and the broader Australian public- primarily the Commonwealth’s funding cuts to hospitals and schools. This was a broken promise by the Coalition that will have significant ramifications in the years to come. I hope Mr Turnbull will be willing to work closely with the State and Territory leaders on reversing these decisions to ensure that all Australians continue to have access to quality public health and education.

“I would encourage Mr Turnbull to prioritise progress on reform of the Federation and a serious discussion on taxation reform. It’s also crucial that the Government tackles marriage equality and climate change – two areas in which Tony Abbott failed to take significant action in line with community expectations. The rollout of the National Broadband Network should also be a priority for a Turnbull government, especially to areas of Canberra that are experiencing poor internet service.

“What we saw last night is another example of the brutality of modern politics. I wish Tony Abbott and his family all the best for the future.

“I look forward to working with Mr Turnbull in the future.”

Many hours later local Liberal leader Jeremy Hanson has added his congratulations:

“I congratulate Malcolm Turnbull on becoming Prime Minister and look forward to a constructive relationship where we both work on building a better future for Canberra. I also congratulate Julie Bishop on her re-election as Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party.

“I pay tribute to Tony Abbott and wish him all the best for his future. His dedicated service as Prime Minister and as a federal parliamentarian deserves our thanks.”