Scott Morrison’s new ministry will tackle power prices, worsening drought and end dispute over Catholic schools funding

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison has revamped his government’s senior ranks in a fresh push to tackle power prices and the worsening drought and end a bitter dispute over funding of Catholic schools.

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison has revamped his government’s senior ranks in a fresh push to tackle power prices and the worsening drought and end a bitter dispute over funding of Catholic schools.

He unveiled his new-look Cabinet, in which five women have been promoted, as former Liberal deputy leader Julie Bishop announced she would quit as Foreign Affairs Minister in the wake of the toppling of Malcolm Turnbull.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison has revamped his government’s senior ranks in a fresh push to tackle power prices and the worsening drought and end a bitter dispute over funding of Catholic schools. Picture: AAP

Peter Dutton, who resigned as Home Affairs Minister to challenge Mr Turnbull for the prime ministership last week, will go straight back into Cabinet in his previous role.

Former deputy PM Barnaby Joyce has been given a special task as a “drought envoy”, and Mr Morrison is in discussions with ex-PM Tony Abbott about a similar “envoy” role.

Mr Morrison said the changes were part of a “process of healing”, following last week’s bitter challenge, which tore down the Coalition’s second PM in three years.

Mr Morrison said he wanted to maintain stability, but also inject “a fresh emphasis” to tackle the big issues of drought, power prices, and population growth.

“It will focus on keeping our economy strong, keeping Australians safe, and keeping Australians together,” he said.

Offering an olive branch to backers of last week’s coup, in which the former treasurer defeated Mr Dutton, Mr Morrison said Australians expected the culture and behaviour of his party room to change.

“I’m not going to pretend to you that those things are fixed quickly,” he said.

“But I do believe that this provides the opportunity, having reached out, having ruled a line, (of) ensuring that the events of the past week go no further than that. And I’m confident that they won’t.”

The new PM also confirmed the government’s proposed big business tax cuts would be axed and replaced with a “new, exciting, tax policy” aimed at small and medium-sized companies.

Marise Payne, who was Defence Minister, will replace Ms Bishop in Foreign Affairs; Christopher Pyne replaces her.

Two plotters who were part of the Dutton challenge — Michael Sukkar and Concetta Fierravanti-Wells — have been left out of the ministry, but Victorian Greg Hunt, who staged a failed tilt to become Mr Dutton’s deputy, will remain as Health Minister.

Another Dutton backer, Alan Tudge, has been given the critical portfolio of Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population, to tackle the hot-button problem of congestion in the country’s major cities.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks to the media during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Sunday, August 26, 2018. Scott Morrison today revealed his newly formed ministry. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING

Turnbull supporters Craig Laundy, Jane Prentice and John McVeigh opted not to be in the ministry.

Victorian Dan Tehan will take over from Education Minister Simon Birmingham, and will have to quickly resolve the government’s dispute with Catholic schools concerning the revamp of education funding.

Conservative Angus Taylor, who has been a critic of renewable energy and elements of the government’s planned National Energy Guarantee, will take over as Energy Minister.

Mr Taylor will have to pick up the pieces of the derailed NEG — the government’s signature energy policy — which helped bring Mr Turnbull down last week.

Victorian Kelly O’Dwyer will move from Finance to Jobs and Industrial Relations.

As Mr Morrison’s new team is sworn in, Labor will launch a series of online advertisements attacking the new PM’s record as treasurer on Monday.

“Scott Morrison wouldn’t know a fair go if he tripped over it. This is the bloke who cut schools, cut hospitals, cut pensions, all so he could give a tax cut to the big banks,” Labor’s deputy leader Tanya Plibersek said.

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