New Australia PM sticks to script with focus on the economy

Federal Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull, a millionaire lawyer and former investment banker, walks out of a government party room meeting in Canberra's Parliament House February 9, 2015. REUTERS/Sean Davey

CANBERRA/SYDNEY (Reuters) - New prime minister Malcolm Turnbull dashed hopes of swift action on progressive issues such as same-sex marriage after he was sworn in as Australia's fourth leader in two years on Tuesday, promising instead to focus on improving a faltering economy.

The conservative Liberal Party voted in a secret ballot late on Monday to oust Tony Abbott as its leader in favour of Turnbull, a multi-millionaire former tech entrepreneur who is popular with the electorate.