Scott Morrison’s female-led reset to return focus to agenda

Karen Andrews leads a series of promotions by Scott Morrison of his female MPs, becoming the first woman in the Home Affairs portfolio.

New Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews. Picture: Getty Images

Karen Andrews leads a series of promotions by Scott Morrison of his female MPs, becoming the first woman in the Home Affairs portfolio as the Prime Minister seeks to use a new female-focused taskforce to help drive the government’s agenda.

Minister for Women and Foreign Affairs, Marise Payne, will lead a new cabinet taskforce concentrating on women’s equality, safety, economic security, health and wellbeing.

She commended Mr Morrison for increasing the number of ­females on the frontbench in a reshuffle aimed at providing a “fresh lens” on women.

“I welcome the increase of the number of women in cabinet, to see it back to its highest level,” she said on Monday.

The taskforce will be co-chaired by Mr Morrison and Senator Payne, and will include all women from the ministry as well as Josh Frydenberg and Finance Minister Simon Birmingham.

Mr Morrison said Senator Payne would now “effectively be the prime minister” of the new group of female ministers.

He later clarified that she would be the “primary minister” for women in cabinet.

The moves come as Mr Morrison fights to stave off criticism that has built up in the six weeks since former Liberal adviser Brittany Higgins came forward to allege she had been raped in Parliament House in March 2019.

“These changes will shake up what needs to be shaken up while maintaining the momentum and the continuity and the stability that Australia needs as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and recession,” Mr Morrison said.

He said women across the­ ­nation would see the most improvement and best results by working together.

“Getting these results for Australian women will be achieved through collaboration. They’ll be achieved through listening. They’ll be achieved by acting together,” he said.

“They won’t be achieved by dividing Australians, setting them apart and having further conflict.”

As part of the shake-up, out­going Industry Minister Karen Andrews will become one of the most senior women in cabinet when she replaces Peter Dutton in the Home Affairs portfolio.

In another key appointment, Michaelia Cash will become the attorney-general and industrial relations minister.

Anne Ruston will have women’s safety added to her social services portfolio and she will also become the manager of government business in the Senate.

Embattled WA senator Linda Reynolds will stay in cabinet but will be moved from Defence to take on government services and the NDIS.

Senator Reynolds, who is due to return from medical leave on Friday, was criticised for her handling of Ms Higgins’s rape ­allegation.

Melissa Price will have her ­Defence Industry portfolio ele­vated to cabinet.

In the outer ministry, Victorian senator Jane Hume will take on women’s economic security, as well as her existing financial services role, and Queensland senator Amanda Stoker will become assistant minister for women.

She will also assist Senator Cash with the industrial relations and attorney-general portfolios

The changes will see seven women in cabinet, including Senator Payne, Senator Ruston, Senator Cash, Senator Reynolds, Ms Andrews, Ms Price and Environment Minister Sussan Ley.