Sussan Ley makes shock choices for key Liberal frontbench roles as Coalition reunites

A Senior Liberal blamed by colleagues for the Opposition’s disastrous work from home election policy has been dumped from the frontbench.

Senior Liberal Jane Hume has been dumped from the shadow cabinet and Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price shifted to an outer ministry role under a major shakeup of the Coalition frontbench.

Victorian Senator Sarah Henderson and Tasmanian Senator Claire Chandler were also demoted under sweeping changes unveiled by Opposition leader Sussan Ley on Wednesday.

Ms Ley stood alongside Nationals leader David Littleproud in Canberra to announce the new senior appointments, having formalised a new Coalition deal one week after the rural party sensationally quit the partnership.

In his own party room, Mr Littleproud sent former leaders Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack packing to the backbench, but insisted this was a part of generational renewal rather than recriminations for leadership rumblings.

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has been shifted to the outer shadow ministry. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Jane Hume has been dumped from the front bench. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Demotions in Libs and Nats

As revealed by News Corp on Wednesday, Ms Hume — who was blamed by colleagues for the Coalition’s disastrous anti-work from home election policy and went on to stun her moderate colleagues by backing conservative Angus Taylor in the Liberal leadership ballot — will move to the backbench.

Also reported earlier, Ms Price, who was in the shadow cabinet as a Nationals member last term, has been moved to the outer shadow ministry as defence industry and defence personnel spokeswoman.

Ms Ley would not reveal the nature of her private conversations with Ms Hume, but described her as “an enormously talented, fantastic member” of the Liberal team who had “contributed amazingly … (and) will continue to do so”.

On Ms Price’s move to the outer shadow ministry, Ms Ley said the Northern Territory senator was “excited” to take up her new roles.

“I’m delighted that Jacinta is taking up what is a really vital role and her style of communication and relationship with Australian people will be incredibly valuable,” Ms Ley said.

On dumping Mr Joyce and Mr McCormack from his senior team, Mr Littleproud said the decision was made to “nurture” new members.

He described both his predecessors has having the Nationals Party at the “core of who they are and what they are”.

Significant Liberal shake-up

Big winners in Ms Ley’s frontbench announcement included NSW Senator Andrew Bragg, who was promoted to shadow cabinet as housing and homelessness spokesman, and also given a new productivity and regulation portfolio.

Victorian MP Tim Wilson, who is yet to formally secure his Melbourne seat of Goldstein amid a recount, has leapt straight into shadow cabinet with the portfolios of small business, industrial relations and employment.

Queensland MP Angie Bell was elevated to environment and youth spokeswoman, while NSW MP Julian Leeser will be shadow attorney general and arts spokesman, and Alex Hawke will be industry and innovation spokesman.

South Australian Senator Kerrynne Liddle has been made Indigenous Australians and social services spokeswoman, Queensland Senator James McGrath received the urban infrastructure and cities portfolio, as well as spokesman for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics.

Opposition leader Sussan Ley has unveiled her shadow ministry. Picture: NewsWire/Martin Ollman

Ms Ley stuck to her commitment to include both her supporters and opponents in shadow cabinet, though among the senior ranks of the Liberals there has been significant portfolio movement.

Victorian Senator James Paterson to take on finance, government services and the public service, Victorian MP Dan Tehan shifting to energy and emissions reduction, West Australian Senator Michaelia Cash to foreign affairs, Tasmanian Senator Jonno Duniam to education and early learning, an WA MP Andrew Hastie to home affairs.

Deputy Liberal leader Ted O’Brien will be the Opposition’s treasury spokesman, while Ms Ley’s leadership rival Angus Taylor will be defence spokesman.

West Australian MP Melissa Price will be science and cyber security in the outer shadow ministry.

South Australian Senator Anne Ruston will remain health, aged care and sport spokeswoman and also add the NDIS, while NSW MP Melissa McIntosh keeps communications and adds women.

New talent promoted

Mr Wilson is not the MP to get a promotion despite not officially being declared the winner of his seat, with presumptive Bradfield MP Gisele Kapterian in line for several shadow assistant roles in communications, technology and the digital economy should she secure the electorate in a recount.

Second term Victorian MP Zoe McKenzie has been elevated to assistant shadow for education and early learning, as well as mental health, while NSW Senator Maria Kovacic will be shadow assistant for child protection and prevention of family violence and women.

Nationals leader David Littleproud. Picture: NewsWire/Martin Ollman

Nationals open to net zero debate

Among the Nationals, leader David Littleproud will be agriculture spokesman, Victorian Senator Bridget McKenzie remains infrastructure and transport spokeswoman and Queensland Senator Susan McDonald will stay northern Australia and resources spokeswoman.

Victorian MP Darren Chester is promoted to veterans affairs, and NSW Senator Ross Cadell will be water spokesman.

Both Ms Ley and Mr Littleproud indicated net zero emissions by 2050 was up for debate.

“Net zero, Paris targets, gas, all of the resources conversations around critical minerals are all part of that (response to climate change),” Ms Ley said.

“We have to get this right. We have to play our part but we have to make sure that we don’t do it at any cost.”

Mr Littleproud said the Nationals current policy position was to back net zero, but any member of the party room had the right at any time to challenge that.

Demotions for key Liberals foreshadowed

Liberal sources confirmed to News Corp on Wednesday morning Ms Hume, the former opposition finance spokeswoman, would be demoted alongside fellow Victorian, Ms Henderson.

Meanwhile one senior Coalition figure said there was “no question” Ms Price, who defected from the Nationals to the Liberals earlier this month, would have remained in shadow cabinet had she stayed with the rural party.

Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley has struck a deal with David Littleproud. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Ms Ley began calling her Liberal colleagues on Wednesday morning to discuss their new roles, signalling a Coalition agreement with the Nationals had been finalised.

Sources also confirmed Mr O’Brien’s role as shadow treasurer, Mr Paterson in finance, Mr Hastie to home affairs, Ms Cash to foreign affairs and Mr Tehan to energy.

A Liberal source said they believed Ms Price would be in the outer shadow ministry due to tough competition for more senior cabinet level positions.

Many Liberals in the party’s right faction are annoyed Ms Price did not put her hand up for the Liberal deputy role once her running mate, Mr Taylor, was unsuccessful in his bid to become leader.

Ms Ley has vowed to promote from across her party room, including people who did and did not support her.

The Nationals receive six of the 20 shadow cabinet positions, leaving the Liberals with 14, including Ms Ley.

Mr Littleproud on Tuesday defended his decision to walk away from the Coalition a week ago after the Liberals initially declined to back the Nationals’ demand they support four policy areas – nuclear energy, supermarket divestiture, mobile coverage in the bush and a $20 billion regional fund.

Mr Littleproud denied his party had been “flip flopping” and insisted once the Liberals indicated support for the policies, which Ms Ley offered this week, it opened up the “opportunity to renegotiate” a Coalition deal.

Ms Ley had said the breakdown in talks was due to the Nationals’ seeking the ability to break shadow cabinet solidarity and vote against certain positions even if the senior leadership team had resolved to support them.

Originally published as Sussan Ley makes shock choices for key Liberal frontbench roles as Coalition reunites