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Scott Morrison announces his ‘next generation’ front bench

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison has announced the composition of his new front bench - and given challengers Mathias Cormann and Peter Dutton back their jobs.

Staff writers and AAP
10 min read
August 26, 2018 - 6:50PM
News Corp Australia Network
Scott Morrison makes drought his first order of business

PRIME Minister Scott Morrision has announced his new front bench, saying it was his - and their - task to “restore stability to the government”.

“We have moved quickly to do that and focused on the most urgent of tasks. But in addition to that, we begin the work of this new team that we will be taking forward as a coalition team of Liberal and national parties to the next election.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison arrives for the press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: AAP
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison arrives for the press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: AAP

“This new Liberal National team is a next-generation team.”

Mathias Cormann will take up the role he quit last week, as finance minister and leader of government. Leadership challenger Peter Dutton has been returned to cabinet in a revamped home affairs portfolio.

Marise Payne will be the new Minister for Foreign Affairs. The disgraced Stuart Robert has been made Assistant Treasurer.

Mr Morrison is removing immigration and citizenship from the Home Affairs portfolio, giving those responsibilities to new minister David Coleman. “We need a strong focus on our immigration program so it brings the skills and the harmony and the unity that we want from the program,” Mr Morrison said. “The minister for home affairs will focus on everything from cyber security to law enforcement to border of protection, security agencies, and will focus more principally on security tasks.” The new energy minister - or the “minister for reducing electricity prices” - is Angus Taylor.

“Angus Taylor has an incredible background working outside of this place and inside this place to solve complex and difficult problems,” Mr Morrison said. Alan Tudge will take on population and infrastructure, which Mr Morrison said was “one of the larger challenges that I know is burning in the minds and conversations of Australians.”

“He will be the menace of the city, urban infrastructure, and population. Alan Tudge is the minister for congestion busting,” Mr Morrison said. Marise Payne will take over from Julie Bishop who is missing from the coalition front bench for the first time in 15 years after she resigned as foreign minister earlier on Sunday.

Christopher Pyne moves across to Defence and Steven Ciobo will replace him as Defence Industry Minister.

Scott Morrison today revealed his newly formed ministry. Picture: AAP
Scott Morrison today revealed his newly formed ministry. Picture: AAP

Dan Tehan has been moved into the troubled schools portfolio while Turnbull education minister Simon Birmingham moves to trade and tourism. Mitch Fifield, who quit the cabinet last week, returns to communications, and while Greg Hunt retains health.

Mathias Cormann has been returned as finance minister and Senate leader. West Australian MP Melissa Price has been moved into cabinet as environment minister.

Karen Andrews is minister for industry, science and technology. Small Business Minister Craig Laundy and Local Government Minister John McVeigh have also stood down from the front bench.

Kelly O’Dwyer takes over Jobs and Industrial Relations, while another rebel minister Michaelia Cash moves to small business, skills and vocational training. Nationals assistant minister Keith Pitt also quit the front bench. New Liberal party deputy leader Josh Frydenberg has already been sworn in as treasurer.

ENERGY SHIFT

Prime Minister Morrison has separated the energy and environment portfolios, indicating a new stance on the Paris Agreement on emissions targets.

“I will consult with my colleagues on those, particularly the ministers who have announced today who will be responsible for these things,” he said. “The challenge that we have in energy is to get the reliability, that spectral power. The challenge is to ensure that the market was to drive the prices down that the big companies said in the prices stay inside the lines. I’m looking for more and new and innovative ways for Angus Taylor to bring a greater opportunity to bring the prices down.”

THE PAST GENERATION

Mr Morrison was upbeat about his team’s future.

“It is a team that are brought together without cynical leaks. They assure that we have the stability necessary, but in addition to that, begin the work of healing that is needed after these most recent events.

“(We will) tackle the big challenges that are before us with some new ideas and a fresh emphasis while restoring some of the emphasis of the past where the Liberal Party is focused on these types of challenges. “

Mr Morrison farewelled Jule Bishop from her role as Foreign Minister, adding thanks for “others such as Jane Prentice, who is not contesting for the Liberal Party at the next election, Craig Laundy, for personal reasons has advised me that he did not wish to be considered for today’s Ministry team, as has John McVeigh.”

Morrison said embattled former National Party leader Barnaby Joyce would be made a “special envoy” for areas affected by drought.

He was more ambiguous about Tony Abbott’s future.

“I look forward to continuing to engage with Mr Abbott on how he can play a role in those areas, but I fully respect his right to look at these issues as he sees fit.

I will continue to work with him on the role that he can play if he wishes to in a superb capacity to that which the former leader of the National Party, Barnaby Joyce, has played.”

HOWARD PASSES JUDGEMENT

JOHN Howard has dismissed undermining and disunity as the source of the Liberal Party’s woes, insteady blaming Malcolm Turnbull for ‘losing control of his parliamentary party’.

“It may turn out to be a lousy judgment,” he told a talk led by SkyNews’ David Speers “Time will tell. As a continuing and passionate Liberal I want Scott Morrison to succeed.”

Mr Howard also dismissed talk of increased factionalisation of the party.

While there had been a lot said about the hard right, soft left and mushy middle … “I wouldn’t get too carried away with ideological labels”.

But Mr Howard admitted he felt Tony Abbott “has remained unreconciled to his removal” as prime minister. But he praised Mr Abbott as “a great servant” of the Liberal Party for winning government in 2013.

The great driver of leadership challenges, he said, was “electoral survival” — and that should not be overlooked.

But Mr Howard rejected the notion the leadership should be handed to the Liberal Party’s membership, not its politicians. He said he did not believe there was any need to change Liberal Party leadership rules, saying people should not reach out for ‘more regulation’ to solve problems.

Mr Howard said Canberra was facing a multitude of new challenges, not least among them being the growing number of members on both sides with no life experience outside politics. We need people who have had jobs outside a politician’s or a union’s office, he said.

“The machinations and gamesmanship of politics has become more important … than policy,” he said.

The speed and ease of access to social media had also had a significant impact on political posturing, he added.

ANOTHER RESIGNATION

Keith Pitt, the Liberal member for Hinkler, has quit the position of Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister. He was previously assistant minister for trade, investment and tourism.

He cited the international Paris Agreement on climate change emissions reductions as the cause for his resignation.

“I have today advised the Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister of my decision to resign from the ministry.

“It has been a great privilege to serve the Australian people, particularly in a role which delivers much needed infrastructure to the regions.

“However, I will always put the national interest and the interests of my constituents above my own. I will always put reducing power prices, before Paris.

“I look forward to contesting the next election and Scott Morrison and his new executive has my full support.”

AUSTRALIA’S ‘FINEST’ FOREIGN MINISTER

FORMER prime minister Maloclm Turnbull has tweeted that Australia had lost its “finest Foreign Minister”.

“I thank Julie for her loyalty and friendship over many years but especially as my Deputy. She has been and remains an inspiring role model for women here and around the world,” Mr Turnbull said.

Earlier today, Ms Bishop said she was going to take a bit more time to decide on her future after participating in the Perth City to Surf this morning.

“It (the leadership change) only happened on Friday, but I will let the Prime Minister know,” Ms Bishop said.

“I have been talking to Scott, the Prime Minister, over the weekend. “I have just run the City to Surf, all this happened on Friday, it’s going to take a little time for me to absorb what has happened and give it some considered thought.”

Asked about rumours that Mr Cormann was calling on Western Australia MPs to vote for her ahead of the leadership spill, Ms Bishop said: “Asking MPs to vote for me? That’s not my understanding.”

Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong paid tribute to Ms Bishop’s “trailblazing role as the first Australian woman to be Minister for Foreign Affairs”.

“For five years she has dedicated her life to our nation with a tireless work ethic and exhausting travel schedule,” Senator Wong said.

“While Labor has at times been critical of the foreign policy directions under Prime Ministers Abbott and Turnbull, Ms Bishop’s commitment to standing up for Australia both here and abroad has never been in question.”

— From Anthony Galloway

Mathias Cormann and Peter Dutton leave the Liberal Party room meeting at Parliament House in Canberra. Leaked WhatsApp messages reveal Mr Cormann’s behind-the-scenes power plays.
Mathias Cormann and Peter Dutton leave the Liberal Party room meeting at Parliament House in Canberra. Leaked WhatsApp messages reveal Mr Cormann’s behind-the-scenes power plays.

BISHOP QUITS FOREIGN MINISTER POST

JULIE Bishop has resigned as foreign minister under new Prime Minister Scott Morrison, but will stay in parliament.

Ms Bishop issued a statement announcing her decision.

“Today I advised the Prime Minister that I will be resigning from my Cabinet position as Minister for Foreign Affairs,” she said.

“I will remain on the backbench as a strong voice for Western Australia.

“I have been preselected by the Liberal Party for the seat of Curtin and I have made no decision regarding the next election.”

Contenders for the prestige position of foreign ministry include former Trade Minister Steve Ciobo and Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne.

New Liberal Deputy Leader Josh Frydenberg has already taken over as treasurer, while Mathias Cormann will take back the finance ministry after resigning last week and causing the leadership spill.

Ms Bishop, 62, was deputy Liberal leader for more than a decade but she only received 11 votes in last Friday’s leadership ballot after Malcolm Turnbull called a spill.

A LIBERAL GAME OF THRONES

A shocking WhatsApp messages between Liberal MPs revealed how Julie Bishop did not stand a chance at winning votes in the party room ballot.

In the group chat messages leaked to ABC TV’s Insiders program, Liberal MPs were warned of an alleged plot by supporters of Peter Dutton to defeat Scott Morrison.

The group chat was sent a warning from Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher. It said: “(Senator Mathias) Cormann rumoured to be putting some WA votes behind Julie Bishop in round 1. Be aware that this is a ruse trying to get her ahead of Morrison so he drops out & his votes go to Dutton. Despite our hearts tugging us to Julie we need to vote with our heads for Scott in round one.”

Those in the WhatsApp chat were Malcolm Turnbull’s backers who included Scott Ryan, Julia Banks, Julian Leeser, Christopher Pyne, Simon Birmingham, Tony Smith, Kelly O’Dwyer, Marise Payne, Melissa Price, Jane Hume, Lucy Gichuhi, Jane Prentice, Trent Zimmerman, Richard Colebeck, Sarah Henderson, Anne Ruston, Chris Crewther and Craig Laundy.

Leaked screenshots from the group aired on Insiders, showing the group was titled “friends for stability”.

The screenshots allege Mr Cormann had secured votes for Ms Bishop to keep Scott Morrison out of the race.

But the conversation between Morrison supporters shows MPs were encouraged to vote for Mr Morrison over Ms Bishop in the first round.

One MP suggested: “Someone should tell Julie”.

A message that appeared to be sent by Christopher Pyne said: “I have.”

“Very respectfully,” he said.

Mr Cormann has rejected the claim, telling Fairfax Media today: “This is 100 per cent incorrect”.

Julie Bishop is back home at Perth. Picture: Richard Hatherly
Julie Bishop is back home at Perth. Picture: Richard Hatherly

WA MP TIPPED FOR ENVIRONMENT ROLE

West Australian Liberal MP Melissa Price will be named Environment Minister in Scott Morrison’s Cabinet, according to the ABC.

Mr Morrison, who won a leadership ballot against Peter Dutton after Malcolm Turnbull called a spill on Friday, is weighing up forming a ministry to reunite the Liberal party.

He has made no other appointments public yet, but has indicated Mr Dutton and former finance minister Mathias Cormann would be welcomed back.

The PM is expected to announce his new frontbench sometime in the next few days.

He will visit western Queensland tomorrow to inspect drought conditions in his first official visit as PM.

Mr Morrison reiterated the drought was his priority on the ABC’s All Over program this morning.

“That’s really been the issue I really have to get on top of straight away,” he said today.

He’ll be joined by the new drought co-ordinator Major General Stephen Day.

“We’re doing that listening which is needed to then plan then act,” Mr Morrison said.

“We are rolling out a lot of things at the moment, but it’s got to be co-ordinated and get to where people need.”

PM Scott Morrison with his wife Jenny. Picture: Kym Smith
PM Scott Morrison with his wife Jenny. Picture: Kym Smith

NEW PM TO UNVEIL SCHOOL FUNDING PLAN

One of the first things Scott Morrison will do as PM is address the issue of school funding.

A proposal to address the concerns of the Catholic sector and guarantee interim funding for next year is very close to being finalised, Fairfax media reports.

The policy would act on the recommendations of a report by the National School Resourcing Board chaired by Michael Chaney that looked at ways of improving the way non-government schools in Australia are funded.

The report put forward a new method of evaluating a private school’s socio-economic status using parents’ income tax data.

The plan looks set to go ahead even if Education Minister Simon Birmingham does not remain in his role.

The PM was expected to spend the weekend deciding who will be in his new Cabinet.

New Prime Minister Scott Morrison is expected to prioritise the issue of school funding. Picture: Kym Smith
New Prime Minister Scott Morrison is expected to prioritise the issue of school funding. Picture: Kym Smith

NEW LEADERSHIP BETTER FOR HANSON

Pauline Hanson has admitted that One Nation would have struggled against a Peter Dutton-led Coalition at the next election, while attacking Scott Morrison as a “Malcolm Turnbull clone.”

“Scott Morrison was the architect of the big corporate tax cuts and Josh Frydenberg is the architect of the NEG, that the country and his party didn’t want,’’ Hanson said.

“People see through this, they don’t forget that and in Queensland he won’t do as well as Dutton, who does share a lot of the policies positions and conservative views as One Nation.’’

An exclusive Newspoll for The Weekend Australian foundthat if Dutton was PM, One Nation would have lost votes — leaving him to retain his marginal Queensland seat of Dickson.

Pauline Hanson has reason to be relieved that Peter Dutton lost the leadership challenge. Picture: Ray Strange
Pauline Hanson has reason to be relieved that Peter Dutton lost the leadership challenge. Picture: Ray Strange

Originally published as Scott Morrison announces his ‘next generation’ front bench

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