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Politics Now: Record number of women in Morrison’s team

Women are the big winners in Scott Morrison’s post-election reshuffle with an influx of new female faces into the ranks of the ministry.

Joe Kelly and Richard Ferguson
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces his new ministry during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Gary Ramage
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces his new ministry during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Gary Ramage
14 min read
7:58AMMay 26, 2019.
Updated 9:31PMMay 26, 2019

Hello and welcome to PoliticsNow, The Weekend Australian’s live blog on the fallout of Scott Morrison’s miracle election win. The PM is expected to unveil his new-look cabinet today, while Labor’s Anthony Albanese is talking up his leadership credentials.

Richard Ferguson 5.36pm: Record number of women in PM’s ministry

Women have been the big winners in Scott Morrison’s post-election reshuffle with an influx of new female faces into the ranks of the ministry.

The cabinet will maintain its record level of seven women and add two new female ministers, while two others will join the ranks of the outer ministry, as Scott Morrison is buoyed by an increase of female MPs in the Coalition party room after his surprise win last Saturday.

Labor had run hard on the Coalition’s lack of female representation but now faces its own “women issues” after opposition justice spokeswoman pulled out of the race for ALP deputy leader, left the party without a woman in its top two spots for the first time in two decades.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne will lead the female contingent of cabinet and add Women to her portfolio. Western Australian senator Linda Reynolds has replaced a retiring Christopher Pyne as Defence Minister, as Scott Morrison promised before the election.

There are two new female faces in cabinet in the form of new Environment Minister Sussan Ley and Social Services Minister Anne Ruston.

Nationals deputy leader Bridget McKenzie will be Australia’s first female Agriculture Minister, while Small Business Minister Michaelia Cash added employment to her portfolio.

Industry Minister Karen Andrews keeps her current role, rounding out the number of women in cabinet to a record of seven.

Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price has been demoted, as widely expected, from cabinet but remains in the ministry.

She will join two new women in the outer ministry: Assistant Minister for Superannuation and Financial Services Jane Hume and Assistant Minister for Regional Development Nola Marino.

“The calibre of women in Scott Morrison’s cabinet defies aesthetics,” Senator Hume said.

“Make no mistake, I’m not here for my skirt, I’m here for my experience, and the contribution I can make to a sector that is critical to the Australian economy.”

Nationals MP Michelle Landry has kept her post as Assistant Minister for Children and Families.

Richard Ferguson 3.55pm: Wyatt ‘incredibly honoured’

Liberal MP Ken Wyatt says he is “incredibly honoured” to be named Australia’s first ever Aboriginal cabinet minister.

“Incredibly honoured to be the first Aboriginal Minister for Indigenous Australians, committed to working & walking together with our Elders, families & communities to ensure the greatness of our many nations is reflected in the greatness of our Australian nation, now and forever,” he tweeted.

Mr Wyatt has been promoted to cabinet as previously serving as Aged Care Minister in the outer ministry.

He is the first indigenous man to be a cabinet minister and the first to be a House of Representatives MP.

Richard Ferguson 3.45pm: Who’s in, who’s out

Here are the changes to Scott Morrison’s cabinet:

IN:

Sussan Ley - Environment

Anne Ruston - Families and Social Services

Stuart Robert - NDIS and Government Services

Alan Tudge - Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure

Ken Wyatt - Indigenous Australians

NEW ROLES (additions to current portfolios in bold)

Bridget McKenzie - Agriculture

David Littleproud - Water Resources, Drought, Rural Finance, Natural Disaster and Emergency Management.

Christian Porter - Attorney General, Leader of the House and Industrial Relations

Paul Fletcher - Communications, Cyber safety and the Arts

Michaelia Cash - Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business

Linda Reynolds - Defence

OUT:

Melissa Price - demoted to outer ministry, now Defence Industry Minister

Mitch Fifield - nominated to be Australia’s Ambassador to the United Nations

Richard Ferguson 3.38pm: ‘Quiet Australians want my tax plan’

Scott Morrison has called on Labor to listen to “the quiet Australians” and pass his full tax plan when parliament returns.

“We put our entire tax plan to the parliament, we just put it to the people of Australia. It is a plan for aspirational Australians, a plan for tax relief not just now, but into the future,” he said in Canberra.

“If the Labor Party has learned nothing from this election, if they are taken out of this election is that they should be denying Australians their aspirations, wellI think that is a sad indictment on the Labor Party, and says that they were not listening to the quiet Australians last Saturday when they spoke up, and they seem to be not listening.

“I would say that they should endorse these measures because they are good measures, they will be good measures for the Australian economy, good measures for jobs, and good measures for

confidence in the Australian economy as we face what are some difficult headwinds in the years ahead.

“This is an important program of tax relief, out over the medium term, and it was put to the Australian people as a package, so it will be put to the Australian Parliament as a package, and I would urge all the members of the Australian Parliament, their voice was clear, and they have asked me to get back to work and get on with the job and that is exactly what I am going to do.”

Richard Ferguson 3.32pm: Energy, emissions reduction portfolios merged

Scott Morrison says it “made a lot of sense” to reunite the energy and emissions reduction portfolios under Angus Taylor after he originally split the two when he became Prime Minister.

“If you look closely at the climate solutions fund, and the other programs that are related to meeting our emissions reduction target, it is Snowy 2.0, these projects fall very much into the role of energy reduction that Angus is closely associated with,” he said in Canberra.

“So it made a lot of sense to bring that under the same banner, and Angus has a lot of experience in dealing with these issues, a lot of technical lines along these issues and that will ensure that these matters are well integrated.”

Richard Ferguson 3.30pm: Reynolds named defence minister

Marise Payne will stay on as Foreign Minister and Simon Birmingham remains in Trade.

WA senator Linda Reynolds will be made defence minister, and will be the only defence portfolio-holder in cabinet. Melissa Price is the new defence industry minister, which is now outside cabinet.

Alex Hawke will be the new minister for international development and the Pacific.

Richard Ferguson 3.25pm: Price shuffled off to defence industry

Sussan Ley will take on a stripped back environment portfolio, while Angus Taylor will add emissions reduction to his current role as energy minister.

Melissa Price has been shuffled into defence industry.

Alan Tudge will keep his role of cities and urban development minister, and he will be elevated to cabinet.

Richard Ferguson 3.22pm: Finance team to remain

Josh Frydenberg and Mathias Cormann will stay in their posts of Treasurer and Finance Minister respectively.

Small Business Minister Michaelia Cash will add employment to her current portfolio.

Attorney General Christian Porter adds industrial relations and leader of the house to his portfolio.

“That will include creating fairer workplaces and enforcing the rule of law in industrial relations, particularly through the Australian Building and Construction Commission,” the Prime Minister said in Canberra.

Richard Ferguson 3.18pm: Stuart Robert enters cabinet

Liberal MP Stuart Robert will enter cabinet as Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Government Services, where he will lead a new agency aimed at making government easier and quicker to access.

“Today we will also establish a new organisation called services Australia, built on the human services portfolio. Services Australia will pick up its lead from a similar organisation established by the New South Wales government called services New South Wales,” he said.

“I think this has been a very important reform in New South Wales and made dealing with government much easier to and that is what we want government to be for Australians, much easier. There are services they rely on and we want them to access those services as easily as they can. And as in a formal way as possible.

“In that portfolio I will be appointing Stuart Robert as the Minister for Government Services in cabinet and I will also be appointing Stuart to the very important role of an issue that is very dear to my heart, the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

“He will be the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and he will be responsible, together with myself, to ensure that we reach that goal that we set of 500,000 Australians who will be able to the services of the National Disability Insurance Scheme over the next five years.

“It is a big social reform. Begun by our predecessors and committed to by our government, fully funded by our government.”

Richard Ferguson 3.15pm: PM appoints first indigenous cabinet minister

Ken Wyatt will be the first indigenous cabinet minister in Australian history, Scott Morrison has revealed.

Mr Wyatt will replace outgoing Nationals senator Nigel Scullion as indigenous Affairs Minister and lead a newly established National indigenous Australians Agency.

Marise Payne will add the Women portfolio to her current responsibilities as Foreign Minister, and there will be a record seven women in cabinet.

Ken Wyatt will be the first indigenous cabinet minister in Australian history.
Ken Wyatt will be the first indigenous cabinet minister in Australian history.

Greg Brown 2pm: Labor MP urges against ‘a jump to the right’

Labor Left MP Andrew Giles has called on the party to resist calls to “reflexively jump to the Right” under Anthony Albanese’s leadership.

Mr Giles, a longtime backer of Mr Albanese, said Labor needed to stand up for people in both inner Melbourne’s Brunswick and regional Queensland’s Bowen.

“I’ve been reluctant to say much since the election, because I strongly believe we need to take the time to consider its lessons and their implications,” Mr Giles posted on Facebook.

“But I also believe that some points need to be made.

“That we resist the calls to reflexively jump to the right, and continue to stand up for our enduring values and all those feeling marginalised.

“That we don’t argue with the electorate’s decision: this means both taking on board the outcome, and rejecting any temptation to pit groups of voters against one another. We can, and must, speak for both Brunswick and Bowen.

“That we take responsibility- not seek to allocate blame to others. This is an indulgence the people who count on us can’t afford.”

Greg Sheridan 1.20pm: PM backs Sinodinos to become next US ambassador

EXCLUSIVE: Scott Morrison will recommend to the Governor-General that NSW Senator Arthur Sinodinos become Australia’s next ambassador to the US, and that Victorian Senator Mitch Fifield, the Minister for Communicatons, become Australia’s ambassador to the United Nations.

The move could clear the way for the return of retiring Senator Jim Molan, who just missed out on the election.

It is understood both senators Sinodinos and Fifield could have had a place the new Morrison ministry but chose to accept these high ranking diplomatic appointments.

Read the full story here

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield is off to the UN.
Communications Minister Mitch Fifield is off to the UN.

Greg Brown 1.08pm: MP lobbies for Neumann to stay

Labor MP Milton Dick has called for Anthony Albanese to keep immigration spokesman Shayne Neumann on the frontbench.

The Queensland Right MP said there should be room for two right-wing Queenslanders on Labor’s frontbench, amid concerns Mr Neumann will make way for NSW senator Kristina Keneally.

“I would hope that Queensland retains its strong representation and we see as many people on the frontbench as possible,” Mr Dick told The Australian.

“Shayne has made a huge contribution and I certainly hope he will remain in a frontbench position.”

Queensland Right MP Jim Chalmers is expected to be appointed to a senior position.

Shadow Immigration Minister Shayne Neumann.
Shadow Immigration Minister Shayne Neumann.

Joe Kelly 10.52am: Sinodinos not ruling out US ambassador role

NSW Liberal Senator Arthur Sinodinos is not ruling himself out of the contest to become Australia’s next ambassador to the United States with Joe Hockey due to finish up his term in January.

With Scott Morrison set to unveil his new cabinet this afternoon, both Senator Sinodinos as well as Finance Minister Mathias Cormann were this morning canvassed by the media as options to replace Mr Hockey.

Senator Arthur Sinodinos. Picture: Gary Ramage
Senator Arthur Sinodinos. Picture: Gary Ramage

Senator Cormann quickly trashed suggestions he could be sent to Washington as Australia’s ambassador to the US, taking to Twitter to reject a story published by The Sydney Morning Herald.

“That is not an exclusive and not accurate. Any suggestion that I’m in the running for this job is 100% incorrect,” Senator Cormann said.

But Senator Sinodinos — a former chief of staff to John Howard — appears to be leaving the door open to the critical diplomatic job in Washington.

A replacement for Mr Hockey could be announced as soon as today.

Richard Ferguson 9.35am: We got it badly wrong: O’Neil

Opposition justice spokeswoman Clare O’Neil says her party took the “wrong platform” to the election and that Labor must refocus on employment and job security.

“We brought the wrong platform to the election and we need to reconsider every aspect of it and have a good look at why we got this one so badly wrong,” she told ABC News.

“We took a big, unwieldy, risky policy agenda to the election and it was hard to explain and it was hard to defend and very easy to weaponise.

“I think it was much too crowded, absolutely. What I think the public doesn’t always see about politics is that you can do a 15 minute political interview where you talk about the importance of growth for 14 minutes and then talk about negative gearing for 30 seconds.

“If the story of the day is negative gearing, that is what the public see and hear.

“I think we need to think about how we will connect this back to our core message, which is that every Australian deserves the right to a job.

“Job security, if you are working in this country you shouldn’t be living in poverty, these fundamental things about being Labor and we need to bring our election platform much more back to the core issues.”

Richard Ferguson 9.20am: Marles set for deputy spot

Labor’s defence spokesman Richard Marles is set to become the deputy leader of the opposition, as the party’s justice spokeswoman Clare O’Neil announces she will not run.

“I have spent the last three or four days having incredible conversations with my colleagues

about whether this is a position that I might be able to take on,” she told ABC News today.

“They have been in every regard respectful, they have been honest. It has never been suggested to me that a 38-year-old woman shouldn’t aspire and reach for that position.

“I think the view that I’ve reached from colleagues is that I’d be probably OK at the kind of

front-facing aspect of the deputy leadership role but that there is a lot to being deputy leader of the Labor Party, that is internal, about bringing the party together behind the leader.

“Richard Marles has got the skills and the qualities and the experience at this stage to be able to do that job really well.”

Richard Ferguson 8.45am: PM will make his own decisions: Minister

Trade Minister Simon Birmingham has refused to label himself the leader of the Liberal moderates now Christopher Pyne has left politics, but says he has advised Scott Morrison on his cabinet.

“We don’t have formalised factions in the Liberal Party. My approach is that I seek to engage with my colleagues as broadly and widely as possible,” he told Sky News.

“It is for others to choose (my place in the moderate hierarchy). These aren’t things that are organised or contested or elected.

“I gave some thoughts to the PM (on cabinet) as you would expect. I’m sure many of our colleagues did as well … Ultimately the Prime Minister makes these decisions.”

Richard Ferguson: 8.30am: Birmingham makes pitch to stay

Trade Minister Simon Birmingham says he would be “happy” to keep his portfolio in today’s cabinet reshuffle, even as the Nationals make a play for his job.

“I know Scott Morrison has been taking his time this last week to think about the structure and the personalities and the people best placed to take the country forward,” he told Sky News.

“We’ve a very busy agenda as a government in terms of the trade portfolio. First and foremost to make sure that we legislate and ratify the agreements that have been made over the past few months with Indonesia, Hong Kong and Peru.

“We then want to make sure we conclude negotiations on the Australia-European Union agreement.”

A Morrison Government trade minister would also have to deal with the growing US-China trade war and the fallout from Brexit.

Nationals leader Michael McCormack has reportedly made clear his party wants the trade portfolio back. The Coalition junior partner has held trade in every LNP government until 2013, when Tony Abbott appointed Liberal Andrew Robb.

The Liberal Party is keen to keep trade due to ongoing negotiations on various trade deals.

Richard Ferguson 8am: Winners, losers in Morrison’s cabinet

Scott Morrison is set to unveil his new cabinet today and we could be in store for some surprises.

The Weekend Australian understands the economic team — Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann — will stay where they are, as will Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton.

There are four spots left to fill by retirements at the last election. Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt, Cities Minister Alan Tudge and Assistant Regional Development Minister Sussan Ley are all possibly in line for promotions.

Meanwhile, Communications Minister Mitch Fifield and Environment Minister Melissa Price could be demoted.

7.30am: We should be the natural party of government: Albo

Labor’s leader-in-waiting Anthony Albanese has vowed to balance environmental protection and jobs, and claims he is now a “more rounded politician” than the party warrior he has earned a reputation for.

In an interview in the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Albanese — who is the only contender for the leadership ballot following several high-profile withdrawals — denied a long-held ambition for leadership.

Anthony Albanese with his dog Toto, is on a charm offensive. Picture: Sam Ruttyn
Anthony Albanese with his dog Toto, is on a charm offensive. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“I think I have grown as a politician and a person,” he said.

“A lot of people who run for leadership positions are people who have thought about it for a long time. I was a very political person but I went into parliament to make a difference, not to be the leader.”

He said he would not be afraid to distance Labor’s agenda from the Greens’.

“People want jobs and a better quality of life for their children than they had for themselves. We need an agenda that speaks tot he majority of Australians.”

Read the full story here.

Rachel Baxendale 7am: Libs poised to claim Chisholm

The Weekend Australian revealed late yesterday that Liberal candidate Gladys Liu has all but claimed victory in the eastern Melbourne seat of Chisholm, where she leads her Labor counterpart Jennifer Yang by 1405 votes.

Earlier this week the Australian Electoral Commission deemed the seat a probable win for the Liberals, delivering Prime Minister Scott Morrison the 76 seats he needs to form majority government.

With the Tasmanian seat of Bass since deemed another probable Liberal gain by the AEC, and the Liberals ahead in the NSW seat of Macquarie — one of two seats still too close to call — the Morrison government is on track to hold 78 seats in the 151 seat House of Representatives.

Liberal candidate for Chisholm Gladys Liu.
Liberal candidate for Chisholm Gladys Liu.

Ms Liu, who has won the seat previously held by Liberal Party defector Julia Banks, released a statement late yesterday, saying she was looking forward to being a part of the Morrison Liberal team and delivering on the commitments the party made to the Chisholm community during the election campaign.

“On current counting trends I will be the next Member for Chisholm,” Ms Liu said.

“I’m looking forward to representing my community in the Australian parliament and delivering on our plan for lower, simpler and fairer taxes.”

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/politics-now-scott-morrison-to-unveil-newlook-cabinet/news-story/033942917a454b577251c42021062044