PM’s ill cabinet: Greg Hunt in hospital, Linda Reynolds ‘serious’, Christian Porter on leave

Greg Hunt is in hospital with a bacterial infection in his leg, the third cabinet minister to have fallen sick.

Health Minister Greg Hunt was admitted to hospital on Tuesday with a suspected infection. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sarah Matray

Health Minister Greg Hunt has been diagnosed with cellulitis, a bacterial infection in his leg, after he was admitted to hospital yesterday.

The office for Minister Hunt said he would be discharged in the “coming days” and would be back at work next week when parliament resumes.

Scott Morrison is acting Health Minister while Mr Hunt recovers.

Mr Hunt is the third cabinet minister to have fallen sick, after Defence Minister Linda Reynolds and ­Attorney-General Christian Porter took time off for health reasons.

Mr Hunt’s office said he was being kept in hospital overnight “for observation and is being ­administered antibiotics and fluid. The minister is expected to make a full recovery. His con­dition is not considered to be ­related to the (COVID-19) vaccine,” which he received on ­Sunday.

On Tuesday, Scott Morrison described Senator Reynolds’ heart problem as “quite serious”, amid speculation she may not ­return to her position as Defence Minister.

The Prime Minister said he was not concerned about having two members of cabinet’s ­national security committee on leave — Senator Reynolds and Mr Porter — “because I have highly competent ministers that are taking over their duties”.

He said Foreign Minister Marise Payne had taken on Senator Reynolds’ responsibilities “because of physical health reasons — and quite serious ones”.

“I have, at the minister’s permission, spoken to her doctor about this issue, and it is a serious issue,” he said. “So we are supporting her in getting the physical health treatment she needs.”

The Defence Minister ­announced on Sunday she would take another month off work — avoiding the next parliamentary sitting week and scrutiny by Senate estimates — on the advice of her cardiologist.

Senator Reynolds, who has been criticised over her handling of an allegation by former staffer Brittney Higgins that she was raped in her ministerial office, is adjusting to new heart medication and has a medical certificate to be off work until April 2.

Senator Payne will shoulder responsibility for looming decisions on the $90bn submarine program and Defence response to the Brereton war crimes ­inquiry, in addition to her work.

Mr Morrison said Senator Payne, as a former defence minister, was across the key issues in the portfolio. He said he also had “absolute confidence” in Employment and Skills Minister Michaelia Cash to take over Mr Porter’s duties as Acting ­Attorney-General and Acting Industrial Relations Minister. “I’m just very pleased that in the case where we’ve had two ministers who have had to stand down for health reasons, I can turn to two very good other female cabinet ministers who can confidently take up their jobs.”

Mr Porter is taking mental health leave after revealing he was the minister at the centre of an historical rape allegation which he strenuously denies.

Mr Morrison said as the chairman of cabinet’s national security committee, “I maintain a very close watch on all of these issues … as you would expect”.

Some Coalition MPs and ­defence sector sources have suggested Senator Reynolds may not return to her portfolio. Some of Mr Porter’s colleagues are also uncertain whether he will continue as the Attorney-General.