Peter Dutton announces frontbench reshuffle as another senior Liberal steps down

Peter Dutton is dealing with yet another hole in his leadership team as another senior Liberal plans to take a seat on the back bench.

Peter Dutton has been forced to fill another gap in his leadership team after another senior Liberal confirmed she would call time on her political career.

Karen Andrews’ shock decision to step down from the frontbench and retire at the next election prompted a wider reshuffle than expected to fill the gap left by Julian Leeser, who quit the frontbench to campaign in favour for the Voice to parliament.

The McPherson MP’s announcement came just moments before the opposition leader stepped up to announce the promotion of two Indigenous senators; Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Kerrynne Liddle.

Ms Andrews stressed her decision was unrelated to the Voice debate but told reporters she would not be “out there wearing a shirt that says vote No”.

Karen Andrews confirmed she would be stepping down ahead of the reshuffle. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“When people speak to me I will go through what my concerns are, but I want to do that in a very neutral way so that people are in a position that they can make their own mind up,” she said at a press conference on the Gold Coast.

Mr Dutton praised Ms Andrews’ contribution and denied suggestions she had been pushed out.

“100 per cent no,” he told reporters in Adelaide.

“Karen made a decision that she wasn’t going to contest the next election. She said to me at the time of the next reshuffle she would be happy to stand aside.”

Victorian senator James Paterson has been tapped as her replacement, adding the home affairs to existing cybersecurity portfolio duties.

Mr Dutton elevated first-time senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to the frontbench. Picture: NCA/NewsWire Emma Brasier

Michaelia Cash will gain the responsibility for legal affairs in addition to her current employment and workplace relations portfolio.

Ms Andrews’ decision comes just a week after Mr Leeser announced his return to the backbench after the Liberals confirmed it would oppose the Indigenous Voice to parliament.

Senator Nampijinpa Price, a leader in the campaign to oppose a referendum to enshrine an Indigenous advisory body in the Constitution, said she was “humbled” by the promotion.

She raised fears Indigenous communities could be “exploited for the purpose of this referendum” and raised concerns about South Australia’s Voice model.

“The fact that a citizen of South Australia can write a statutory declaration and claim to be Indigenous is deeply concerning,” the NT senator said.

South Australian Senator Kerrynne Liddle also received a promotion. Picture: NCA/NewsWire Emma Brasier

Senator Liddle, who was installed as the spokeswoman for child protection and prevention of family violence, said she was also concerned about the state’s model.

“We don’t actually know how effectively this model will work,” she said.

Senator Nampijinpa Price’s elevation has given the Nationals another seat at the shadow cabinet table, going above the minimum guaranteed by the Coalition agreement.

Leader David Littleproud said the decision, which came at the expense of promoting a Liberal, showed a “level of maturity” in the partnership.

“While it’s above our quota, the main thing is that this is the right decision for the Coalition,” he told reporters in Canberra.

Originally published as Peter Dutton announces frontbench reshuffle as another senior Liberal steps down