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Australia's new prime minister gets on his bike and heads to work after being elected on vow to cut taxes, aid and immigration
Tony Abbott immediately set to work yesterday on Right-wing agenda Top of the list is implementing his promise to get tough on immigration by 55-year-old Oxford graduate also said one of his first moves would be to reverse the climate change consensus
By Richard Shears PUBLISHED: 23:42 GMT, 8 September 2013 | UPDATED: 00:00 GMT, 9 September 2013

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Australias new prime minister immediately set to work yesterday on a right-wing policy agenda that many Tories could only dream of carrying out in Britain. Hours after defeating the ruling Labor party, British-born Tony Abbott slipped into cycling gear for a ride through Sydneys suburbs and then got straight down to business. Top of the list is implementing his promise to get tough on immigration by turning back the asylum boats bringing refugees to the country, while pledging to slash Australias foreign aid budget.

After winning, British-born Tony Abbott got straight down to business....

The 55-year-old Oxford graduate also said one of his first moves would be to reverse the climate change consensus by scrapping taxes on carbon emissions. The resounding victory for the conservative Liberal leader was applauded by media magnate Rupert Murdoch, who controls up to 70 per cent of the newspaper market in Australia. He tweeted: Aust election public sick of public sector workers and phony welfare scroungers sucking life out of economy.

Celebration: Australia's conservative leader Tony Abbott (centre) stands with his wife Margaret (second left) and daughters Frances, Louise (far left and right) and Bridget as he claims victory in Australia's federal election

Victor: Australia's new Prime Minister British-born conservative leader Tony Abbott celebrates his election win

'Australia is under new management,' Tony Abbot takes power

And in an intriguing prediction, Mr Murdoch added: Others nations to follow in time. Among the first to congratulate Mr Abbott by phone was David Cameron, who later wrote on Twitter that it would be great to work with another centre-right leader.

The two men spoke for several minutes, agreeing to talk later in more detail about policy issues.

ME AND MY NOT BAD LOOKING DAUGHTERS

Dressed in stunning white gowns, it was Tony Abbotts three daughters who stole the limelight following his election victory. But it was no surprise to their father, who is accused of using their looks to win votes. In one TV appearance last week, he was accused of sexism and misogyny when he said: If you want to know who to vote for, Im the guy with the not bad-looking daughters. However, the trio have been keen to support their father in his election campaign. In the final days, UN worker Louise, 24, returned from Geneva to join Frances, 22, who worked with underprivileged groups, and 20-year-old university student Bridget. A Roman Catholic, in 2010 he was asked for his views on the idea of preserving virginity until marriage. He replied: I think I would say to my daughtersit is the greatest gift that you can give someone, the ultimate gift of giving, and dont give it to someone lightly.

Winners: Tony Abbott waves to the crowd as he stands on stage after victory in the Australian election

Mr Abbott said he would overturn many of the failed policies of the last government after scoring a landslide victory over Kevin Rudds turbulent Labor party, which had been in power since 2007. There are predictions that when the counting is over the Liberals will have won close to 90 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives. Australia is again open for business, Mr Abbott declared as he posed victoriously with his three daughters and his wife, Margaret.

PM elect slipped into cycling gear for a ride through Sydneys suburbs

After a bike ride round Sydney, PM elect Tony Abbott is ready to tackle issues such as immigration and taxes

But as the celebrations died down it was time to roll up his sleeves, assemble his public service chiefs and

promise to hit the ground running. Mr Abbott said his government would swiftly implement a measure he has termed operation sovereign borders, aimed at intercepting Indonesian fishing vessels carrying asylum-seekers. The navy will be ordered to stop craft as soon as they enter Australian waters and promptly turn them round.

HOW ABBOTT RELIED THE ADVISER WITH A LINK TO DOWNING STREET

The strategist who ensured Tony Abbott was elected on a right-wing ticket has links to David Cameron, it emerged last night. Mark Textor is the business partner of Lynton Crosby the Prime Ministers controversial campaign guru and the man the Tories hope will secure the general election in 2015. The Australian pair set up consultancy Crosby Textor in 2002 and expert pollster Mr Textor has been a close adviser to Mr Abbott for several years. His strategies ensured Mr Abbotts Liberal party made major gains in 2010 and he wrote the We will stop the boats mantra for the current election campaign. Mr Crosby, known as the Wizard of Oz, masterminded successive election triumphs for former Australian PM John Howard and is known for using controversial social issues such as immigration to connect with the unspoken concerns of voters. The policy has been described as crazy by opponents, but to many in Australia Mr Abbott is a refreshing Action Man compared to the nerdy Mr Rudd. Born in London, he moved Down Under with his Australian parents when he was almost three. A graduate in economics and law at the University of Sydney, he returned to Britain to study politics and philosophy at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. There, he earned a blue in boxing and was also a keen champion of Margaret Thatcher. On his return to Australia, he trained briefly as a Catholic priest, earning the nickname the Mad Monk, before becoming a key figure in the Liberal Party. He served as employment minister in John Howards government between 1998 and 2003. Many accused him of being gaffe-prone and mocked his tendency to punctuate sentences with drawn-out ehs. But as opposition leader, he watched Labor implode before successfully staking his claim to Australias highest office.

'Clear win': Tony Abbott, Australia's next Prime Minister, watched as his daughters Bridget, Frances and Louise and his wife Margie cast their votes in Sydney

Abbott, who was once regarded as 'unelectable' by many within his own party, pictured before defeating a ruling party marred by infighting and a much-maligned carbon tax

Fitness fanatic and ex-Oxford University boxer Abbott said an election win would not interrupt his morning run

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