Cabinet reshuffle: Scott Morrison moves Linda Reynolds and Christian Porter
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has unveiled a new Cabinet after being forced to make major changes to his ministry following recent sex scandals.
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Scott Morrison has elevated six women and demoted Christian Porter and Linda Reynolds in a bid to reset his government after weeks of chaos.
Senior women in the Liberal Party have been given extra portfolios covering specific women’s issues as part of the PM’s new-look Cabinet, unveiled following weeks of bungled responses since alleged rape survivor Brittany Higgins went public.
Under the reshuffle, Mr Morrison brought Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price back into the Cabinet, meaning there are now seven women in the senior group — more than any other government.
But Mr Morrison’s attempts to show Australian women he has heard their concerns has been undermined by his decision not to call for embattled Queensland MP Andrew Laming to be dumped from the party.
Dr Laming has taken a month of leave to undergo behavioural training and will not recontest the next federal election after he abused several women online and took a photo of a young woman’s underwear in public.
Mr Morrison resisted calls to remove Dr Laming from the Coalition party room, which would create a minority government.
“ (Dr Laming) has said he is not seeking re-election,” he said.
“That is not a small thing to do, to walk away from a career in politics.”
In the reshuffle, Mr Porter and Ms Reynolds have been moved from their roles as Attorney-General and Defence Minister respectively, but will remain on the frontbench.
Mr Porter has moved to Industry, Science and Technology, while Ms Reynolds has shifted to Government Services.
Peter Dutton was promoted to Defence Minister, while Karen Andrews stepped up into his Home Affairs portfolio.
Michaelia Cash will be the new Attorney-General and Industrial Relations Minister, and Stuart Robert moves to Employment, Workforce, Small and Family Business.
Family and Social Services Minister Anne Ruston will add Women’s Safety to her role, and has been promoted to be part of the Morrison government’s leadership group.
Superannuation, Financial Services and the Digital Economy Minister Jane Hume has been given an additional portfolio of Women’s Economic Security, while Assistant Minister to the Attorney-General Amanda Stoker has also been appointed Assistant Minister for Women.
Mr Morrison announced all of the women would be part of the new Women’s Cabinet Taskforce, which would ensure a “gender equality lens” was brought to all major government policy discussions.
The taskforce would also include the PM, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, Finance Minister Simon Birmingham and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack.
Mr Morrison described Ms Payne as the “prime, Minister for Women” among her female colleagues.
“It is her job to bring together this great talent and experience,” he said.
The reshuffle was triggered after Mr Morrison received advice from the Solicitor-General there was a perceived conflict of interest if Mr Porter — who has denied historical rape allegations made against him — remained Attorney-General while he sued the ABC for defamation.
Ms Reynolds, who is on leave due to a pre-existing heart condition, was criticised for her handling of Ms Higgins’s rape allegations.
In a statement Mr Porter said it had been a “great honour and privilege” to serve as Attorney-General, but he was “accepting and understanding” his defamation case against the ABC now required his “replacement”.
Dr Laming went on ABC radio yesterday to defend his actions, declaring the “facts are on my side”.
Brisbane woman Crystal White and her colleague Sean Blinco have claimed Dr Laming took the photo of Ms White while she was bending over to fill up a fridge at a landscaping supplies business in 2019.
However Dr Laming said: “The photograph was of her in a completely dignified position, in no way compromised”.
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Originally published as Cabinet reshuffle: Scott Morrison moves Linda Reynolds and Christian Porter
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