Scott Morrison announces his Cabinet today, a week after shock election victory
Scott Morrison has announced his post-election Cabinet today, and the embattled environment minister Melissa Price was demoted during the reshuffle.
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Scott Morrison has announced his new Cabinet this afternoon, confirming two senators will take on roles as ambassadors and dumping Melissa Price from her environment portfolio.
In a press conference today the Prime Minister said the Cabinet would feature a record number of women with seven females to take on senior roles.
Contrary to his previous statements, Mr Morrison has dumped the embattled MP Melissa Price from the environment portfolio but has given her the role of defence industry minister.
“She asked to be given a new challenge and I was happy to give her one,” Mr Morrison said of the move.
However, the move is seen as a demotion because she will no longer sit in Cabinet.
A report in The Australian today suggested Ms Price would lose her job, after she dodged public events and the media during the election campaign. Ms Price became something of a laughing stock, with the Opposition comparing her incredibly low profile on the hustings to a game of Where’s Wally.
Rural MP Sussan Ley will be the new Environment Minister. It’s a return to cabinet for Ms Ley who was in 2017 forced to stand down as health minister after revelations she purchased a Gold Coast apartment while on a work trip.
Mr Morrison’s new ministry will also include the first female Agriculture Minister, a role that will be taken by Bridget McKenzie.
However the former agriculture minister, Nationals MP David Littleproud, has been given responsibility for water resources, natural disasters, and emergency management.
Mr Morrison also announced he would recommend Senator Arthur Sinodinos to become the Ambassador to the United States when Joe Hockey’s term is up.
Senator Mitch Fifield will be tapped to be Australia’s Ambassador to the United Nations.
“I would have been very happy for Mitch to continue to serve in communications and the arts,” Mr Morrison said.
WA politician Ken Wyatt will be the first indigenous person to be appointed the Indigenous Affairs Minister, replacing Northern Territory Senator Nigel Scullion following his retirement.
Victorian MP Michael Sukkar, who quit a previous role in August in a bid to get Peter Dutton into the top job, has been given the role of Assistant Treasurer and also Minister for Housing. He will be responsible for overseeing the government’s first home deposit scheme and delivering affordable housing.
Two key supporters of Mr Morrison in his bid to replace Malcolm Turnbull in August have also been rewarded.
Stuart Robert was assistant treasurer but has been promoted to cabinet as Government Services Minister and will oversee the National Disability Insurance Scheme
Alex Hawke has also been promoted. He will be International Development Minister and assistant Defence Minister, in a bid to build stronger defence and economic ties with the Pacific.
Other changes include Alan Tudge becoming Population Minister, while Richard Colbeck will take Aged Care, Youth and Sport.
Paul Fletcher, the former minister for families and social services, will become Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts.
South Australian Senator Anne Rushton will take over as Minister for Families and Social Services.
The full list of Scott Morrison's new Cabinet: https://t.co/asYLGuRkvh pic.twitter.com/X3x9hcjzN4
— Charis Chang (@CharisChang2) May 26, 2019
It appears Barnaby Joyce has missed out as he did not receive a new role and there was no mention of him continuing his position as special envoy for drought.
In a Twitter post Mr Joyce seems to indicate he was not told about his position being dropped, with the MP informed of the news thanks to a discussion on Sky News.
While Mr Barnaby’s special envoy position may no longer exist, another role has been created for Queensland MP Warren Entsch, who has been appointed special envoy for the Great Barrier Reef.
Meanwhile Josh Frydenberg will continue as Treasurer, Mathias Cormann will retain Finance and Peter Dutton will stay on in Home Affairs.
Greg Hunt will continue as Minister for Health and will also be expected to oversee mental health as part of his portfolio.
Angus Taylor will retain Energy but will add emissions reduction to his list of responsibilities.
Christian Porter will remain Attorney-General but will also take on the portfolio of industrial relations. He will also be Leader of Government Business in the House.
The Prime Minister had a few vacant spots to fill following the exits of Christopher Pyne, who was Defence Minister, and Kelly O’Dwyer, who held the Employment portfolio.
However, Mr Morrison made clear before the election that West Australian Senator Linda Reynolds would take on Defence, making her just the second woman to do so.
Senator Reynolds served in the Army Reserves for almost three decades and was the first female to hold a star rank, rising to brigadier in 2012.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne will remain and will add the role of Minister for Women to her responsibilities.
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Mr Morrison is on a high after last weekend’s unexpected victory, which saw the Coalition returned with a majority despite years of successive opinion polls pointing to a Labor victory.
Originally published as Scott Morrison announces his Cabinet today, a week after shock election victory
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