The Daily Telegraph’s Canberra experts rate our federal politicians
After a slow start to the year, PM Scott Morrison and his band of top performers finished strongly. The Daily Telegraph’s Canberra experts rate our politicians. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK.
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After a slow start to the year, PM Scott Morrison and his band of top performers finished strongly. The Daily Telegraph’s Canberra experts rate our politicians.
PRIME MINISTER SCOTT MORRISON: A
It has been a rollercoaster year for the PM that saw a number of mid-year struggles (including his handling of Brittany Higgins’ allegations of rape and much-criticised checking in with his wife Jenny as well as what began as a glacially slow vaccine rollout).
These criticisms were neutralised or turned into net positives with big wins including the UK free-trade deal, world-leading vaccination rates, and a seemingly resilient economy — all go in his favour.
Morrison ends the year on a high, but needs to re-establish his leadership after being dragged down by less able students in the national cabinet group project.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT BARNABY JOYCE: B+
Second time lucky, Joyce rose from the ashes of the backbench to once again assume the Nationals’ leadership, Deputy Prime Minister position, and a seat at the cabinet table.
The Coalition agreement remains intact post-net zero emissions deal.
TREASURER JOSH FRYDENBERG: A-
Cynics claim the Treasurer does nothing more than chuck money around, but other countries have tried that with disastrous results.
A rebound like Australia’s doesn’t happen by accident, and our jobs numbers are looking the strongest they’ve been since the GFC — when a year ago 15 per cent unemployment was on the cards.
Extra credit for staring down Google and Facebook to give Australia a world-first media bargaining code.
MINISTER FOR DEFENCE PETER DUTTON: A-
Dutton is a huge asset for the Coalition and a strong voice on national security — even more so now he has finally landed the Defence portfolio he coveted for so long.
He’s already had numerous wins — overturning a decision to strip a Meritorious Unit Citation from ADF personnel who served in Afghanistan, dumping the troubled fleet of European-made MRH 90 Taipan helicopters and not-fit-for-purpose French submarines.
MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS KEN WYATT: B-
Vaccination rates among Indigenous Australians have remained woefully behind the rest of the population, with communities left exposed to misinformation online.
At the height of outbreaks in Western NSW, it became clear not enough proactive work had been done to help the most vulnerable communities.
MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE AND NORTHERN AUSTRALIA DAVID LITTLEPROUD: B+
Surviving the Nationals’ spill and retaining his deputy leader position, Littleproud has continued to prove a capable minister.
In particular, he secured a new type of agriculture visa to fill the gap left by UK backpackers no longer required to work in the regions to extend their visa.
MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS, URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE, CITIES AND THE ARTS PAUL FLETCHER: C
That’s a C for “could do better”. In the face of increasing outrages from the national broadcaster, including multiple defamation cases, a Four Corners team that acts more like an ideological hit squad, and no transparency in the complaints process, Fletcher far too often falls back on the excuse that the ABC is an independent agency.
A bit like the dog ate my homework, but for governance.
MINISTER FOR REGIONALISATION, REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AND REGIONAL EDUCATION, MINISTER FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND NATIONAL RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE BRIDGET MCKENZIE: B+
Returning to the cabinet with what is surely one of the longest job titles in government, McKenzie was immediately responding to multiple disasters — of the naturally occurring kind this time.
Delivering emergency Covid-19 payments for millions of Australians in lockdowns, flood assistance and help for boarding kids stranded due to state border closures, McKenzie has made the most of her return so far.
MINISTER FOR FINANCE SIMON BIRMINGHAM: B+
He’s an adept media performer rolled out to fend off all manner of prickly questions causing problems for the government.
His contributions behind the scenes around the review into parliament’s workplace culture were widely acknowledged by Coalition staff as being the best among the government’s leadership team.
Birmingham will likely be the government’s spokesman during the federal election, so expect to see and hear a lot more from him in 2022.
MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT SUSSAN LEY: GRADE = NOT “IN DANGER”
Ley successfully averted a push from green activists to list the Great Barrier Reef as endangered after Australia was “blindsided” by the UNESCO recommendation.
Ley lobbied the EU and African nations on the World Heritage Committee, which was chaired by China, to support a deferral of the matter.
MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MINISTER FOR WOMEN MARISE PAYNE: B+
As media-shy as ever, Payne has had a lot to juggle, with the significant focus on the treatment of women in Australia this year coupled with the normal heavy workload of the foreign affairs role.
Perhaps that’s why Scott Morrison decided to carve up parts of the women’s portfolio to share among other female ministers, noting of course that Payne remains the “prime minister for women”.
MINISTER FOR TRADE, TOURISM AND INVESTMENT DAN TEHAN: B
A year in the trade role and Tehan still hasn’t got China to return a call.
He did get the UK-Australia free-trade deal finalised, with some wins for agriculture, though at the expense of the UK backpacker regional work visa, and has kept the EU free-trade talks going even amid French unhappiness at Australia.
His other portfolio area isn’t faring so well, given border closures have decimated much of the nation’s tourism sector.
MINISTER FOR DEFENCE INDUSTRY, MINISTER FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MELISSA PRICE: GRADE = MIA
Promoted to the cabinet but no more visible, subs deal dumped and barely heard a word from the minister despite the huge ramifications for Australia’s defence industry.
MINISTER FOR EDUCATION ALAN TUDGE: GRADE = INCOMPLETE
A star performer, the Education Minister was headed for the top of the class for his work to improve the classroom.
Unfortunately he’s been sent to the principal’s office while allegations of improper extracurricular activities are investigated, but we hope he will be able to return soon and demand serious improvements to the Australian Curriculum and education in general.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL, MINISTER FOR INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS MICHAELIA CASH: B+
Rewriting the religious discrimination bill, drafting world-first laws to take on anonymous trolls online, and bringing states together to standardise definition of consent are major achievements.
How Cash manages the government’s proposed national integrity commission will be a big test in the lead-up to the election.
MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGED CARE GREG HUNT GRADE = CLASS DUX
After a disastrously slow start to the Covid-19 vaccine rollout just as the Delta variant arrived on Australia’s shores, Hunt had his work cut out for him this year.
Even though residual anger remains, he will now retire after more than two decades in parliament, having helped make Australia one of the most vaccinated countries in the world.
MINISTER FOR FAMILIES AND SOCIAL SERVICES, MINISTER FOR WOMEN’S SAFETY ANNE RUSTON: B+
MINISTER FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES, MINISTER FOR THE NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME LINDA REYNOLDS: D
Dumped from Defence while on medical leave for an existing illness triggered in the wake of criticism she faced for her response to the allegations of her former staffer, Brittany Higgins, Reynolds has had a terrible 2021.
Calling Higgins a “lying cow” in front of her staff was a particular low point.
MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS KAREN ANDREWS: B+
Andrews was given a major promotion to the Home Affairs portfolio and has so far handled the role capably.
Though less public-facing than predecessor Peter Dutton, she has a strong presence on key national security issues.
MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY, ENERGY AND EMISSIONS REDUCTION ANGUS TAYLOR: B+
MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT, WORKFORCE, SKILLS, SMALL AND FAMILY BUSINESS, ACTING MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND YOUTH STUART ROBERT: B
Unemployment is down, workforce participation is increasing, and trade apprenticeships are at record highs. This new portfolio definitely suits Scott Morrison’s most loyal soldier.
MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION, CITIZENSHIP, MIGRANT SERVICES AND MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS ALEX HAWKE: B
Worked hard behind the scenes during the Kabul evacuation to get thousands to safety, but immigration has since struggled, with a huge backlog of visa applications from Afghans fleeing the Taliban.
Hawke kicked the Biloela family visa problem down the road slightly, but will have to face it eventually.
MINISTER FOR RESOURCES, MINISTER FOR WATER KEITH PITT: GRADE = B FOR BOOMERANG
Blink and you probably missed Pitt’s return trip out and then back into the cabinet room this year.
Dumped after Barnaby Joyce became Nationals leader and there weren’t enough seats at the main table to go around, Pitt kept his ministerial portfolios, securing his return within a few months as part of the Nationals’ murky deal with the Liberals on net zero.
Originally published as The Daily Telegraph’s Canberra experts rate our federal politicians
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