What the Cabinet reshuffle means for South Australia: SA Senator Anne Ruston gets new role, Peter Dutton to lead in defence work

The Cabinet change has bumped SA Senator Anne Ruston into an added role for women’s safety – but the reshuffle has other implications for the state.

South Australian senator Anne Ruston is one of six women elevated in Scott Morrison’s Cabinet reshuffle, which demoted Attorney-General Chris­tian Porter and Defence Minister Linda Reyn­olds, to end the Canberra chaos.

Just 101 days after his last reshuffle, the PM unveiled the changes yesterday to “shake up what needs shaking up”.

In a significant win, Senator Ruston, the Social Services Minister, was given an additional role, the Minister for Women’s Safety, while also being elevated to the Prime Minister’s inner circle.

Senator Jane Hume is the new Minister for Women’s Economic Security. Senator Michaelia Cash was tapped to become the new Attorney-General.

SA Senator Anne Ruston is one of the six women elevated in the Cabinet reshuffle. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Karen Andrews was promoted to the Home Affairs portfolio and Peter Dutton made the shift to Defence.

Mr Morrison dubbed Senator Marise Payne as “effectively the Prime Minister for Women”, charging her with leading a new Cabinet task force – including all-female ministers – to work on women’s equality, safety, economic security and health and wellbeing.

She said it would be a “very powerful” way to “focus in on those issues right across government in a way that I have never seen before”.

Senator Ruston said it was a great honour to be hand-picked for the newly established role.

“This portfolio gives such an important issue a new level of prominence at a pivotal time for Australia,” she said.

“Women deserve to live a life free of violence, whether that be family, domestic or sexual violence.

“Not only should women be safe but we have the absolute right to feel safe whether it be in the home, in the workplace or the wider community. Sadly, violence against women and their children remains an unacceptable scourge in Australia and I believe this is an opportunity to put policies in place that say enough is enough.”

Christian Porter was demoted from Attorney-General. Picture: Stefan Gosatti / AFP

Linda Reynolds was demoted from Defence Minister. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

Mr Porter remained in Cabinet – after he was accused of raping a woman in 1988 – but shifted portfolios along with Senator Reynolds, who has faced criticism for how she handled the rape allegation made by her former staffer Brittany Higgins against a colleague. Both ministers remain on medical leave but are due to return this week.

Mr Morrison’s close ally, Stuart Robert, was moved to a bolstered Economy portfolio, having missed out on his preferred job in Home Affairs,.

Melissa Price, the Defence Industry Minister, will now return to a Cabinet that includes seven women – more than under any previous Prime Minister. Mr Porter accepted his defamation action against the ABC meant he had to be replaced as Attorney-General, but he maintained he had “no alternative" and “no regrets” about the court fight.

Mr Morrison said the changes were designed to get the right input and perspective on problems facing women.

But Oppositon Leader Anthony Albanese criticised him for keeping Mr Porter and Senator Reynolds in Cabinet.

Originally published as What the Cabinet reshuffle means for South Australia: SA Senator Anne Ruston gets new role, Peter Dutton to lead in defence work