PM’s reshuffle a chance to re-grasp political initiative

Scott Morrison’s cabinet reshuffle, more extensive than pundits predicted, will be the circuit-breaker the government needs only if the main players, male and female, take the opportunity it affords to step up, take control of the political agenda and better assert the government’s message. The Prime Minister sounded back on form on Monday after a “very traumatic” (his words) few weeks. His ministerial changes and a new cabinet taskforce to focus on women’s equality and safety put the interests of women front and centre of government and are a brave attempt to show he “gets it”.

A year at most from the next federal campaign, the public performance of Minister for Foreign Affairs and Women Marise Payne, who will co-chair the cabinet taskforce with Mr Morrison, will be critical. Senator Payne’s reticence as controversies raged over Brittany Higgins and Christian Porter let down the government and the public. Her failure to appear at the recent Women’s March 4 Justice was incomprehensible. Working behind the scenes as a leading moderate within the Liberal Party was no substitute for public engagement. Senator Payne showed again on Monday that when she asserts herself she is articulate and balanced. The new role entrusted to her — Mr Morrison said she would be “effectively the prime minister for women” — will amount to little if she does not step up and grasp the agenda. So must Social Services Minister Anne Ruston, who has been given responsibility for women’s security, and Superannuation Minister Jane Hume, whose role now will include women’s economic security. Between them, they need to match Labor warriors such as Tanya Plibersek and Penny Wong. Senator Payne will be helped by the feisty, capable Amanda Stoker as assistant minister.

Too often Coalition frontbenchers, male and female, have seemed as hapless as deer caught in headlights as Mr Morrison has battled and stumbled through the recent storms, often alone. On Monday, the comments of Health Minister Greg Hunt and Senator Ruston on the future of lamentable LNP backbencher Andrew Laming were welcome. Matters of direct importance to women are part of every portfolio. But Mr Hunt, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, government Senate leader Simon Birmingham and many others have been too aloof from recent controversies. Former ministers Julie Bishop and Kelly O’Dwyer would not have been so passive. Neither has the government been well served by its advisers. It needs experienced hardheads of the calibre of Grahame Morris, Arthur Sinodinos and Brian Loughnane. To some extent the pattern was entrenched when Mr Morrison won the 2019 election virtually alone. Josh Frydenberg is a highly effective, high-profile, hardworking Treasurer. Mathias Cormann was a big loss. Mr Hunt and Peter Dutton are very competent, but few others have shone. It is time for a stronger team performance, including by staff. Looking ahead, the talent pool of MPs elected in 2019, such as Katie Allen and Celia Hammond, appears promising.

The latest Newspoll, predictably, shows recent controversies have taken some gloss off Mr Morrison’s strong approval rating. But his lead as preferred prime minister over Anthony Albanese remains solid. The crisis should not be as catastrophic for the government as its enemies wish. Mainstream voters do not expect Mr Morrison and his team to change human behaviour across the nation. Nor is Labor immune from the problems under the spotlight. But voters want the government to demonstrate it is addressing the key issues in so far as the parameters of government allow, and setting problems in its own ranks and in Parliament House to rights. The reshuffle is a good base for a reboot.

When defence is increasingly important, Mr Dutton has the gravitas, experience and strength to be Defence Minister and leader of government business in the house. Karen Andrews, who has driven the Coalition’s agenda on advanced manufacturing, deserves the larger challenge of home affairs. While Christian Porter’s position as attorney-general was untenable, demoting him, while remaining in cabinet, was wrong. In effect, he has lost his job and seniority in government due to an unfair and unjust personal campaign waged against him by the ABC and seized upon by Labor. It leaves Michaelia Cash a major challenge as Attorney-General and Industrial Relations Minister. Linda Reynolds should have done the decent thing and stepped back from the ministry. She can consider herself fortunate to remain in cabinet. She is a beneficiary of Mr Morrison’s reluctance to demote ministerial colleagues.

Addressing issues such as women’s safety and discrimination is important, and there is no doubt a mood in the community for social change in the treatment of women. But the Coalition must not allow itself to be dragged too far or too often onto the left’s turf. The government’s priorities, creating the economic settings for prosperity and jobs, and managing COVID, are of prime importance to men and women and their families. Mr Morrison and Senator Payne spoke about examining policy through a new lens. While redressing problems highlighted recently, the government must focus primarily on its economic strengths. These matter most to mainstream voters.