Anika Wells promoted to cabinet in Labor pre-election ministerial reshuffle

Aged Care Minister Anika Wells has been promoted to cabinet as part of a ministerial reshuffle, which has seen Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth allocated the critical NDIS portfolio.

Aged Care Minister Anika Wells has been promoted to cabinet on Thursday in a ministerial reshuffle. Picture: NewsWire/Sarah Marshall

Anthony Albanese has bolstered the female representation in his cabinet by elevating Aged Care and Sport Minister Anika Wells in a ministerial reshuffle, which also saw Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth handed the pivotal NDIS portfolio.

The promotion of the second-term MP to the cabinet has lifted the gender balance closer to an even split, with 11 male and female members excluding the Prime Minister, in a boost to the Prime Minister’s gender equality credentials.

Mr Albanese promoted four women in the pre-election reshuffle sparked by Bill Shorten’s retirement from politics, also assigning Finance Minister Katy Gallagher the government services portfolio and Early Childhood Education Minister Anne Aly the role of Assistant Minister to the NDIS.

Ms Rishworth, who represents the SA seat of Kingston, will take on the critically important role of overseeing the $44bn-a-year disability support scheme in addition to her social services portfolio, cementing her status as a heavy hitter in the revamped Labor cabinet.

Declaring that all the roles would be “in addition” to the portfolios already held by the ministers, Mr Albanese praised Ms Wells for her role in delivering the most significant aged care reforms “this century” after she secured the passage of landmark legislation last year.

“Anika Wells has delivered the most significant reforms on aged care this century with the legislation that passed through both houses of parliament at the end of last year and has delivered on the commitments that were made,” the Prime Minister said.

“There is now a nurse in a nursing home, as they used to be called, 99 per cent of the time.

“There were literally millions of hours of additional care being given to our older Australians, who deserve to live their later years with dignity and with respect.

“My government has been determined to deliver just that, and Anika Wells has done an outstanding job as the minister, as well as in her sport portfolio, of course, being the Sports Minister.”

Ahead of an official swearing-in ceremony to be held on Monday, Mr Albanese paid tribute to Mr Shorten’s work on improving the NDIS and the “tangible positive difference” he’s made to the lives of Australians.

Ms Wells’ ascent also strengthens the Queensland representation in cabinet, with Mr Shorten’s exit to become University of Canberra vice chancellor depleting the number of Victorian MPs at the highest level of politics.

The reshuffle comes as Peter Dutton is expected to unveil his own frontbench line up as soon as this weekend, after foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham and manager of opposition business Paul Fletcher announced their exit from politics.

Coalition MPs believe Sussan Ley has expressed interest in the role as foreign affairs spokeswoman.

Opposition NDIS, housing and social services spokesman Michael Sukkar is expected to become the manager of opposition business.

Liberal backbencher Julian Leeser, who resigned from the frontbench over his support for an Indigenous voice to parliament is also tipped to be handed a portfolio in the reshuffle.

The Opposition Leader criticised Labor’s reshuffle, comparing the promotions to a “shuffling of chairs on the deck of the Titanic”, and declaring the Albanese government had “lost its way” in the last two and a half years.

“The Prime Minister can announce a new reshuffle, but this is an old government,” Mr Dutton said.

“It feels like this is a fourth or fifth term of the government, it’s actually the first term, and Australians have gone backwards every day under this Albanese government, and there is no light ahead.”

Ms Wells, who is 39-years-old, said she was honoured by the promotion, vowing to continue to “build a better future for older Australians receiving aged care and the workers who support them as we deliver the new Aged Care Act”.

“On the green and gold runway to Brisbane 2032, we will keep prioritising inclusion, participation, safety and high performance so more people have more access to the mental and physical health benefits of sport,” she said.

Ms Rishworth commended Mr Shorten for his “invaluable contribution” to the nation including those living with disabilities, declaring she was honoured to be taking on the role.

“There are 5.5 million Australians with disability and our Albanese Labor government is committed to an inclusive Australia where all people with disability can thrive and reach their goals as equal members of the community,” she said.