Australian gov't elects new speaker following Bronwyn Bishop's resignation

Australia's parliament has elected a new speaker of the House - following the widely- publicized resignation of former speaker Bronwyn Bishop last week - in an appointment expected to result in a more productive and less rancorous parliament.

Victorian Liberal MP Tony Smith was elected by colleagues on Monday morning before the resumption of Parliament later in the day.

After the vote was found to be in favor of Smith, he told reporters he was "humbled" to have full support of his Liberal party colleagues.

"I look forward to what is an important and difficult job that I will do to the best of my ability," he told reporters on Monday.

"I'm humbled by the support I have received from the party room. "

Smith won the vote 51-22, comfortably edging out three other Liberal Party nominees.

The incoming Smith takes the reins from Bishop, who succumbed to fierce public pressure after documents detailed her frivolous spending of taxpayer money on entitlements.

He is expected to be a less divisive figure and has already said he would not be as heavy-handed, rather, fairer to both parties while in the position.

He has also indicated he would not be attending partyroom meetings, something Bishop never did.

The outgoing Bishop was widely regarded as an extremely partisan speaker - earlier this year she was credited with ejecting more than 400 members from the lower house since her inception in the position back in November 2013. More than 393 of those were from the opposition.

Australian parliament resumes on Monday for the first time since Bishop resigned. Endi