Glaring detail in Albo’s new line up of frontbenchers
Anthony Albanese’s newly sworn in cabinet has one unmistakeable feature which many Aussies have welcomed.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s new frontbench looks like none other Australia has ever seen.
Setting a new bar for female representation, 13 out of the 30 ministers sworn in at Canberra’s Government House on Wednesday are women.
Some of the faces are familiar, like Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek and former ACT Chief Minister, now Finance Minister, Katy Gallagher.
Others are brand new to the frontbench like Anika Wells, Kristy McBain, Ged Kearney and Anne Aly – all of whom have been in parliament for less than five years.
In another historic moment for Dr Aly, along with Ed Husic, she became one of the first Muslim Australians to hold federal ministries, with both sworn in on the Qur’an.
Similarly, Wiradjuri woman Linda Burney is the first Indigenous woman to be named Indigenous Australians Minister.
“This is far more representative than any government party room has ever been in our history. We are making progress,” Mr Albanese said.
The swearing in of the new look ministry came with a brief musical interruption.
A phone rang as MP Kristy McBain was shaking the Governor General’s hand, playing the riff of the 1987 INXS hit ‘Need You Tonight’.
The Prime Minister joked: “Can ministers not bring soundtracks, please”.
One by one, Labor frontbenchers stood before David Hurley to sign their commissions and take the oath of office, promising to serve the commonwealth of Australia, its land and its people.
Ms McBain was sworn in as the Regional Development, Local Government and Territories Minister.
MPs were sworn in order of seniority, with Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Treasurer Jim Chalmers the first to follow Mr Albanese.
Senator Wong said she was proud to have welcomed new members to the Labor caucus who reflected modern Australia.
“I’ve always believed that our parliament best serves the community when it reflects the community,” she wrote on Twitter.
The cabinet is also the most experienced incoming Labor government since federation, with more than half the ministers having previous frontbench experience in at a federal, state or territory level.
Mr Albanese said during the election campaign he intended to maintain the same team as in shadow ministry during the Morrison government’s tenure, which has largely remained true.
Deputy Labor leader Richard Marles has taken on the defence portfolio, overseeing record spending at a time of escalating geopolitical tensions.
Senate leader Penny Wong had already been sworn in as Foreign Affairs Minister and begun her duties overseas.
Also already sworn in were Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, who will also hold portfolios for Women and the Public Service.
Those in charge of spearheading Labor’s highly anticipated climate change strategy will be Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek.
Tony Burke will serve as leader of the House as well as Employment and Workplace Relations Minister and Arts Minister.
The Health and Aged Care portfolios will be held by Deputy Leader of the House Mark Butler.
Trade and Tourism Minister will be Deputy Senate leader Don Farrell.
Former Labor leader Bill Shorten will act as the minister overseeing the NDIS and Government Services.
Jason Clare will serve as Education Minister Education and Julie Collins will take on the portfolios for Housing, Homelessness and Small Business.
Australia’s Attorney-General will be Mark Dreyfus, who will also serve as Cabinet Secretary.
Senator Pat Dodson will serve as a special envoy for reconciliation and the implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Anne Aly will serve as early Childhood Education and Youth Minister and Anika Wells will take on the Aged Care and Sport portfolios.
Dr Aly has taken over a Left faction frontbench position vacated by Terri Butler who lost her Brisbane-based seat of Griffith to the Greens.
The new ministry has been sworn in before Mr Albanese flies to Indonesia on Sunday.
Mr Albanese on Tuesday addressed Labor senators and MPs at the first federal caucus since the party won the federal election.
“We have a position whereby I think we have an overflow of talent on our side of the parliament,” he said.
Full list of portfolios:
Jim Chalmers – Treasurer
Penny Wong – Senate Leader and Foreign Minister
Richard Marles – Deputy PM and Defence
Tanya Plibersek – Environment and Water
Jason Clare – Education
Katy Gallagher – Finance, Public Service and Women
Mark Dreyfus – Attorney-General and Cabinet Secretary
Tony Burke – Leader of the House, Employment and Workplace Relations and Arts
Don Farrell – Tourism and Travel and Special Minister of State
Clare O’Neil – Home Affairs
Amanda Rishworth – Social Services
Bill Shorten – NDIS and Government Services
Mark Butler – Health and Aged Care
Chris Bowen – Climate Change and Energy
Catherine King – Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
Madeleine King – Resources and Northern Australia
Brendan O’Connor – Skills and Training
Murray Watt – Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Emergency Management
Linda Burney – Indigenous Australians
Julie Collins – Housing, Homelessness and Small Business
Michelle Rowland – Communications
Ed Husic – Industry and Science
Stephen Jones – Assistant Treasurer and Financial Services
Anne Aly – Early Childhood Education and Youth
Kristy McBain – Regional Development, Local Government and Territories
Andrew Giles – Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs
Matt Keogh – Veterans Affairs and Defence Personnel
Pat Conroy – Defence Industry and International Development and the Pacific
Anika Wells – Sport and Aged Care
Originally published as Glaring detail in Albo’s new line up of frontbenchers
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