Scott Morrison, Australia’s treasurer, is to become the country’s sixth prime minister in just over a decade following his victory in a bitterly contested Liberal party leadership vote that ousted Malcolm Turnbull.

Mr Morrison won the ballot of Liberal MPs by 45 votes to 40 on Friday, paving the way for him to be sworn in. The vote follows a week of political chaos in Canberra that halted parliamentary business and exposed divisions within the Liberal party, which is the main partner in a coalition with the Nationals.

Mr Morrison beat Peter Dutton, former home affairs minister, and Julie Bishop, foreign minister, to win the leadership. Mr Turnbull did not contest the leadership election and has indicated he will resign his seat in parliament — a move that threatens the future of the government, which is clinging to power with a one-seat majority.