Federal Election 2022: Liberal and Labor figures who will play a significant role after May 21
There is a raft of Liberal and Labor faces who would play a significant role in any government that’s formed after the election. See who they are.
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Fourteen million Australians are yet to cast their ballot — and for many the election will come down to the policy and personality contest between Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese.
But behind Liberal and Labor leaders are a raft of faces — some of them household names, others relatively unknown — who would play a significant role in any government formed after May 21.
They would step into key frontbench portfolios, including treasury, defence, infrastructure and health.
Here, we look at the options on both sides of the political divide.
TREASURER
Treasurer: Josh Frydenberg
Age: 50
Qualifications and occupation before entering federal parliament
Bachelor of Science Honours degree from Monash University
Master of Philosophy at University of Oxford
Master of Public Administration at Harvard University
Commonwealth Scholar of the UK Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.
Director at Deutsche Bank AG from 2005 to 2009
Josh Frydenberg first entered parliament in 2010 as the Member for Kooyong, in Victoria, and is the seventh person since Federation to hold this seat.
In August 2018, he was elected Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party and appointed Treasurer of Australia by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Mr Frydenberg has previously served as Minister for the Environment and Energy, the Minister for Resources, Energy and Northern Australia, Assistant Treasurer and Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister since the 2013 election.
And away from politics, he remains an avid tennis player and has pursued photography having held his first exhibition in 2008 at a gallery in Richmond, Melbourne.
Shadow Treasurer: Dr Jim Chalmers
Age: 44
Qualifications and Occupations before entering federal parliament
Bachelor of Communications and Bachelor of Arts degree from Griffith University
PhD at Australian National University
Tutor in politics and public policy at Australian National University and the University of Canberra, 2001
Executive Director of the Chifley Research Centre, 2013
Dr Jim Chalmers has been the Member for Rankin, in Brisbane, since 2013 where he grew up and now lives with his wife and three children.
He first joined the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Minister for Finance from 2016 to 2019, and has since served in several roles including Shadow Minister for Sport and Shadow Assistant Minister for Trade, Investment and Productivity.
Following the 2019 election, Dr Chalmers – who has published two books – was appointed Shadow Treasurer.
HEALTH
Minister for Health: Anne Ruston
Age: 58
Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament
- Bachelor of Business degree from the University of Southern Queensland
- Electorate officer from 1987 to 1993
- Senior Policy Adviser to the Minister for Industrial Affairs, Tourism, Recreation, Sport and Racing (SA) from 1993 to 1996
- Chief Executive of the National Wine Centre from 1996 to 2002
- Owner/operator of Ruston’s Roses from 2003 to 2012
Anne Ruston has been a senator since September 2012 and has held the role as Minister for Families and Social Services in the Morrison Government since 2019.
However, if the Coalition is reelected into government she will replace Greg Hunt as Health Minister, following his retirement from politics.
Ms Ruston — who represents South Australia — would be the first senator to hold the health portfolio since Kay Patterson during John Howard’s Government 20 years ago.
She was previously appointed as Assistant Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources in September 2015, and was subsequently appointed as Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific in August 2018.
Prior to becoming a senator, Ms Ruston was a primary producer and irrigator, owning and operating the largest commercial rose garden in Australia.
Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing: Mark Butler
Age: 51
Qualifications and Occupations before entering federal parliament
Bachelor of Laws degree at University of Adelaide
Union official from 1992 to 2007
Master of Industrial Relations at Deakin University
Mark Butler has been a Labor member in the federal parliament since 2007, and is currently the elected Member for Hindmarsh, in Adelaide.
The father-of-two served as Minister for Ageing and Australia’s first Minister for Mental Health while in the Gillard Government.
He has also held the ministries of housing, homelessness, social inclusion, climate change, water and the environment.
In 2013, Mr Butler was awarded the Alzheimer’s disease International Award for Outstanding Global Contribution to the Fight Against Dementia.
The 51-year-old is also the author of Advanced Australia – The Politics of Ageing, published in 2015; and Climate Wars, published in 2017.
AGED CARE
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care: Richard Colbeck
Age: 64
Qualifications and occupation before entering federal parliament
CertTech(Building), CertCarpt&Join and CertSmlBusMgt at Devonport Technical College
Apprentice carpenter and joiner from 1977 to 1979
Trainee estimator and supervisor from 1977 to 1979
Manager from 1979 to 1984
Building estimator and supervisor from 1984 to 1989
Managing director and proprietor of building consultancy from 1989
Director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Tas.) from 1998 to 2001
Prior to entering politics in 2002, Richard Colbeck worked in the construction industry for more than two decades, starting as an apprentice before going on to own his own business.
The father-of-three served as an Alderman on the Devonport City Council, a Director of the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and President of the Devonport Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
His past portfolios include serving as Minister for Tourism and International Education, Minister Assisting the Minister for Trade and Investment, Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and twice as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture.
The Tasmanian senator has also held Shadow Parliamentary Secretary roles in the health, industry and innovation, and agriculture, fisheries and forestry portfolios.
Shadow Minister for Aged Care: Clare O‘Neil
Age: 41
Qualifications and occupation before entering federal parliament
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree and Bachelor of Laws degree (Hons) from Monash University
Master of Public Policy at Harvard University
Policy Adviser to the Treasurer, 2008
Engagement manager at McKinsey and Company from 2009 to 2013
Business Adviser at the Marngarr Aboriginal Resource Centre, 2011
Clare O’Neil is a former Mayor of the City of Greater Dandenong, in Victoria, and was the youngest female mayor in Australian history.
Before entering federal parliament she worked as a manager at McKinsey & Company, and in 2010 she spent nine months living in East Arnhem Land, working on business development with a local Aboriginal community.
Ms O’Neil — who has been the Member for Hotham, in Victoria, since September 2013 — was first appointed to the Shadow Ministry in 2016 as the Shadow Minister for Justice.
She was also appointed as Shadow Minister for Financial Services, and Shadow Minister for Innovation Technology and the Future of Work, in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
DEFENCE
Minister for Defence: Peter Dutton
Age: 52
Qualifications and occupation before entering federal parliament
- Bachelor of Business degree from Queensland University of Technology
- Police officer from 1990 to 1999
- Company director from 1993 to 2001
Peter Dutton is a member of the Liberal Party and has served as Minister for Defence and Leader of the House in the Morrison Government since March 2021.
He has been a member of cabinet since 2013 and represented the Queensland seat of Dickson since 2001.
The father-of-three was first elected to the Australian parliament as the Member of the Queensland seat of Dickson in 2001 at age 30.
And he became one of the youngest ministers since Federation when appointed to the ministry by Prime Minister John Howard in 2004.
Before his election to parliament, Mr Dutton served as a Queensland Police Officer for a decade, where he worked in the National Crime Authority and Drug and Sex Offenders’ Squads.
Shadow Minister for Defence: Brendan O’Connor
Age: 60
Qualifications and Occupations before entering federal parliament
- Graduated from Monash University
- Diploma, Harvard Trade Union Program
- Union official from 1986 to 2001
- Assistant Secretary of the Australian Services Union from 1993 to 2001
Brendan O’Connor was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2001 and is the Federal Member for Gorton, in Melbourne.
Since entering parliament, he has held a number of portfolios including Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Industrial Relations, Minister for Employment Participation and Minister for Home Affairs.
Prior to entering politics, the father-of-one, who lost his wife to breast cancer in 2018, was a union official from 1986 to 2001 and an Assistant National Secretary of the Australian Services Union from 1993 to 2001.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development: Barnaby Joyce
Age: 55
Qualifications and occupation before entering federal parliament
- FCPA (Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at University of New England
- Farm worker from 1989 to 1991
- Accountant from 1991 to 1994
- Rural banker from 1994 to 1998
- Self-employed accountant from 1998 to 2005
Barnaby Joyce was elected to head The Nationals Senate team in Queensland in 2004, before taking office in 2005.
Following the election of the Coalition to government in September 2013, Mr Joyce was appointed Federal Minister for Agriculture and Deputy Leader of The Nationals with Water Resources being added to his portfolio in 2015.
In February 2016, he was elected unopposed as Leader of The Nationals and was sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister.
However, in February 2018, he stepped down from his ministerial positions in Cabinet to remain as Federal Member for New England.
Following the Federal Election on 18 May 2019, Mr Joyce was re-elected as the Member for New England.
Mr Joyce was also reappointed Chair of the House Standing Committee on Industry, Innovation, Science and Resources and also appointed as Chair of the Coalition Policy Committee on Small and Family Business, Employment, Education and Training.
In June last year, he was elected by his party colleagues as the Leader of the Nationals and subsequently sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development.
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development: Catherine King
Age: 55
Qualifications and occupation before entering federal parliament
- Masters in Public Policy at Australian National University
- Assistant Director, National Public Health Partnership
- Social worker at the Children’s Homes and Family Services, Ballarat (Vic.) from 1988 to 1992
- Research officer to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health, 1993
- Industry policy officer for the Australia New Zealand Food Authority from 1993 to 1994
- Assistant Director of Population Health Division at the Department of Health and Aged Care from 1997 to 1998
- Director of Injury Prevention in the Population Health Division at the Department of Health and Aged Care from 1998 to 1999
- Senior Manager at KPMG Consulting from 1999 to 2001
Catherine King was first elected to federal parliament in 2001 where she represented the electorate of Ballarat, in Victoria.
Ms King was appointed Parliamentary Secretary in the portfolios of Health and Ageing and Infrastructure and Transport in the Gillard Government following the 2010 election.
In March 2013, Ms King took on the roles of Minister for Regional Services, Local Communities and Territories and Minister for Road Safety in the Gillard Government.
She was subsequently promoted to Cabinet in July 2013, as Minister for Regional Australia, Local Government and Territories in the Rudd Government.
Only three months later, she was appointed to the role of Shadow Minister for Health in the Shadow Cabinet when Bill Shorten was appointed as the Labor’s Leader of the Opposition.
Following the 2019 election, Ms King was appointed to the role of Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development in the Shadow Cabinet led by the current Leader of the Opposition Anthony Albanese.
AGRICULTURE
Minister for Agriculture: David Littleproud
Age: 45
Qualifications and occupation before entering federal parliament
- Cotton chipper, 1993
- Banking and finance from 1994 to 2016
David Littleproud was elected to the House of Representatives in 2016 as the Member for Maranoa, in Queensland.
Since being elected, Mr Littleproud has served as a Member of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, including the Trade Sub-Committee, and Foreign Affairs Sub-Committee.
He has also served as a Member on the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts and the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Innovation, science and Resources.
In May 2019, the father-of-three was appointed as the Minister for Water Resources, Drought, Rural Finance, Natural Disaster and Emergency Management.
Shadow Minister for Agriculture: Julie Collins
Age: 50
Qualifications and occupation before entering federal parliament
- CertIVBA (TAFE Tasmania)
- Administrative Officer for the Australian Labor Party (Tas.) from 1987 to 1990
- Administrative Assistant to the Minister for Health from 1990 to 1992
- Administrative Officer at the Department of Health from 1992 to 1993
- Administrative Officer to the Leader of the Opposition (Tas.) from 1993 to 1994
- Electorate Officer to Senator John Coates from 1995 to 1996
- Adviser to Senator Sue Mackay from 1996 to 1998
- Business Support Officer, Hydro Tasmania 1998
- Personal Assistant and Adviser to the Premier of Tasmania, Jim Bacon, from 1998 to 2003
- Manager of the Ministerial Unit in the Department of Tourism, Parks, Heritage and the Arts (Tas.) from 2003 to 2005
- Adviser to Senator Carol Brown from 2005 to 2006
Julie Collins was elected as the first female representative for Franklin, in Tasmania, in 2007.
During the former Labor Government, Mrs Collins held several portfolios including Community Services, Indigenous Employment and Economic Development and the Status of Women and Minister for Housing and Homelessness.
In 2019, the mother-of-three was appointed as the Shadow Minister for Ageing and Seniors and Shadow Minister for Women, before she took on her current role as Shadow Minister for Agriculture in January last year.
Mrs Collins is one of just four members of parliament who did not graduate from high school, the others being Jacqui Lambie, Llew O‘Brien and Terry Young.
HOME AFFAIRS
Minister for Home Affairs: Karen Andrews
Age: 61
Qualifications and occupation before entering federal parliament
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) from Queensland University of Technology
CertMediation at Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia
Graduate Diploma Industrial Relations at Victoria University
Small business owner
After a career as an engineer and running her own industrial relations business, Karen Andrews was elected to parliament in 2010 as the Federal Member for McPherson on the Gold Coast.
Following a period as Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills and Assistant Minister for science, Mr Andrews was sworn in as Minister for Industry, science and Technology in the Morrison Government Cabinet in August 2018. In doing so, she became the first ever female cabinet minister from Queensland.
In March 2021, Ms Andrews became the first ever female Minister for Home Affairs.
She previously served as Minister for Industry, science and Technology and served as an assistant Minister in the Abbott and Turnbull Governments.
Shadow Minister for Home Affairs: Kristina Keneally
Age: 53
Qualifications and Occupations before entering federal parliament
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree from University of Dayton, USA
Primary School Teacher at the Immaculate Conception School, Cuba, New Mexico, USA
Graduate Assistant in the Department of Religious Studies, University of Dayton, Ohio, USA
Youth & Young Adults Co-ordinator for the Society of St Vincent De Paul (NSW)
Research Assistant at Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Premier of NSW
Presenter for Sky News Australia from 2014 to 2017
Director of Gender Inclusion & Adjunct Professor at the Macquarie Graduate School of Management from 2015 to 2017
Born to an Australian mother and American father, Kristina Keneally moved permanently to Australia in 1994.
She joined the Australian Labor Party in 2000, before she became a member of the NSW parliament from 2003 until 2012.
In 2009, she became the 42nd Premier of NSW and the first woman to hold the office.
The mother-of-three joined Sky News Australia in 2014, where she co-hosted the daily lunchtime show “To the Point” and became a regular contributor to Sky’s coverage of major events.
Mrs Keneally was appointed as Deputy Labor Leader in the Senate, Shadow Minister for Home Affairs and the Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship by Labor Leader Anthony Albanese in June 2019.
EMPLOYMENT
Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business: Stuart Robert
Age: 51
Qualifications and occupation before entering federal parliament
Master of Information Technology
Masters of Business Admin from Central Queensland University
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) at UNSW Canberra at the Australian Defence Force Academy
Army officer
Chief Executive Officer of GMT Recruitment from 1999 to 2007
Prior to entering politics, Stuart Robert served in the Army for 12 years in Infantry and Intelligence Corps units including, deploying operationally to Bougainville in 1998 as part of the Peace Monitoring Force.
Since entering public life in 2007, Mr Robert has held a number of ministerial appointments, including Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Human Services, Assistant Minister for Defence, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC.
Following the May 2019 election, the father-of-three took on responsibility for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and services. And in March 2021, Mr Robert was appointed as Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business.
Shadow Minister for Employment, Skills and Small Business: Richard Marles
Age: 54
Qualifications and Occupations before entering federal parliament
Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Melbourne
Solicitor from 1993 to 1994
Legal Officer for the Transport Workers' Union from 1994 to 1998
Assistant Secretary of the Transport Workers' Union from 1998 to 2000
Assistant Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions from 2000 to 2007
Richard Marles was elected to federal parliament as the Member for Corio in November 2007.
He is currently the Deputy Leader of the Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for National Reconstruction, Employment, Skills and Small Business, Shadow Minister for science, and the Federal Member for Corio.
During the Rudd-Gillard Governments, the father-of-four served as Minister for Trade, Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation and Industry.
His other appointments include serving as Shadow Minister for Defence, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Border Protection
EDUCATION AND YOUTH
Minister for Education and Youth: Alan Tudge
Age: 51
Qualifications and occupation before entering federal parliament
Masters of Business Administration at Harvard University
Bachelor of Laws (Hons) degree from University of Melbourne
Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Melbourne
Consultant at Boston Consulting Group from 1996 to 2001
Senior Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Education from 2002 to 2006
Deputy Director of the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership from 2006 to 2009
Principal of a business advisory firm from 2009 to 2010
Alan Tudge has been the Minister for Education and Youth since December 2020, but was stood aside from his duties in December last year over claims of abusive behaviour by his former media adviser.
A government investigation subsequently found Mr Tudge had not committed any wrongdoing, despite the complainant not giving any evidence. He is now on personal leave.
He has previously served as Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure; Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs; Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs; Minister for Human Services and Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister.
Mr Tudge was first elected in 2010 and prior to entering parliament he spent most of his career in business both in Australia and the United States, and worked as a senior adviser to the Foreign Minister and Education Minister.
Shadow Minister for Education: Tanya Plibersek
Age: 52
Qualifications and Occupations before entering federal parliament
Women's Officer.
Bachelor of Communications (Hons) degree at the University of Technology, Sydney
Masters of Politics and Public Policy at Macquarie University
Member of the Domestic Violence Unit, Ministry for the Status of Women (NSW).
Electorate officer
Between 2013 and 2019, Tanya Plibersek was Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Deputy Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party.
From 2013 to 2016, Mrs Plibersek was also the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development.
The mother-of-three, who joined parliament in 1998, previously served as a Cabinet Minister in the Gillard and Rudd Governments.
She has also held roles as Minister for Health, Minister for Medical Research, Minister for Housing, Minister for Human Services, Minister for Social Inclusion, and Minister for the Status of Women.
Shadow Minister for Youth: Amanda Rishworth
Age: 43
Qualifications and Occupations before entering federal parliament
Bachelor of Psychology degree from Flinders University
Masters of Psychology at University of Adelaide
Swimming instructor from 1995 to 1999
Research assistant from 1998 to 1999
Union representative from 2000 to 2005
Psychologist from 2005 to 2007
Occupational health and safety trainer from 2006 to 2007
In 2007, Amanda Rishworth was elected as the Member for Kingston at the age of 29.
The mother-of-two is Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education and Development and Shadow Minister for Youth.
Following the 2016 election, she was appointed as the Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel.
Mrs Rishworth has also held positions as chair of the House of Representatives standing committee on education and employment as well as being a member of the Joint Standing electoral matters and Joint Select cyber-safety committees.
She was also promoted to Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water along with Disabilities and Carers in March 2013.
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Originally published as Federal Election 2022: Liberal and Labor figures who will play a significant role after May 21
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