Australia hails UK's 'first PM of colour'

Dr Chalmers called Mr Sunak a great friend of Australia and congratulated him. 

"I don't think it's insignificant a country like the United Kingdom has its first prime minister of colour," he said on Tuesday. 

"The UK, like Australia, has no shortage of challenges and no shortage of economic challenges. 

"So, we wish Rishi Sunak well. I personally look forward to working with whoever he names as chancellor of the exchequer."

Dr Chalmers said he exchanged messages with the incoming prime minister after he was unsuccessful in the last leadership ballot against Ms Truss.

"It says something about his commitment and his persistence, the way that he conducted himself in the interim," Dr Chalmers said.