Scott Morrison’s ministry of women
Scott Morrison declares Marise Payne the ‘prime minister for women’ under a wider-than-expected ministerial reshuffle.
Scott Morrison has declared Marise Payne the “prime minister for women” under a wider-than-expected ministerial reshuffle that increased female cabinet representation, set up a gender-equality taskforce and shifted embattled ministers Linda Reynolds and Christian Porter.
In a bid to neutralise the Coalition’s sexism row, the Prime Minister on Monday announced Senator Payne and three senior female ministers would lead a cabinet taskforce focused on improving the economic, health and safety conditions for women.
The ministerial shake-up, which promoted six women, was triggered by criticism of the government’s handling of rape allegations and sex harassment claims. It increases female representation in cabinet to 30 per cent.
Peter Dutton was promoted to Defence while Karen Andrews moves to the Home Affairs portfolio. Mr Morrison returned Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price to cabinet, increasing female representation to seven out of 23, and created three new female-focused roles for Jane Hume, Anne Ruston and Amanda Stoker.
Senator Ruston will move into Mr Morrison’s leadership team, with Michaelia Cash promoted to Attorney-General and Industrial Relations Minister, taking over from Mr Porter.
Mr Morrison said the women’s taskforce would drive the government’s agenda and its response to “these key issues involving women’s equality, women’s safety, women’s economic security, women’s health and wellbeing”, setting the platform for increased support in the May 11 budget.
“What we must do is address the government’s agenda with the changes that we’re making … with a fresh lens, in particular, to achieving the outcomes, the results that we all want for Australian women across the country,” the Prime Minister said.
“Getting these results for Australian women will be achieved through collaboration. They’ll be achieved through listening. They’ll be achieved by acting together. They won’t be achieved by dividing Australians and setting them apart and having further conflict.”
Senator Payne retains Foreign Affairs and her Minister for Women role, despite facing criticism by colleagues over her inability to cut through while the Coalition has been under attack over its handling of the rape and harassment allegations.
Senator Payne said the ministerial taskforce would put women’s issues at the centre of government. “We know that the last few weeks have been extraordinarily challenging, confronting and difficult for so many people in this country, but none more than those women who have had to deal with or address assault or harassment or inappropriate behaviour in their workplaces, in their communities, in their social life, in their families across Australia,” Senator Payne said.
“And bringing a gender equality lens if you like, to the whole of ministry approach enables us to really focus in on those issues right across government in a way that I have never seen before.”
After six weeks of dealing with rolling scandals involving Senator Reynolds’ handling of the Brittany Higgins rape allegation and a historical rape allegation levelled at Mr Porter, which he has denied, Mr Morrison shifted the pair into lower-profile portfolios.
Mr Porter, who moves into the industry portfolio overseeing the government’s manufacturing strategy, will be replaced by Senator Cash, with Mr Dutton claiming his duties as Leader of the House. Senator Reynolds, who was forced to apologise to Ms Higgins after The Australian revealed she had called her a “lying cow”, was shifted into the government services and NDIS portfolio, ahead of her return from medical leave on Friday.
Mr Morrison was also forced to respond to calls from female government MPs that Andrew Laming not sit in the Coalition party room, amid growing expectations the Bowman MP could be forced on to the crossbench. The Queensland MP, who has gone on medical leave after being ordered to take empathy training, was forced to quit politics at the next election over multiple incidents, including harassing women online and taking an inappropriate photograph of a young woman with her underwear exposed.
With the government holding a one-seat majority after Craig Kelly moved to the crossbench last month, Mr Morrison said Mr Laming had “reflected on the conversation he and I had over the course of the weekend and I’m pleased that he is taking that instruction to get that support, to change his behaviour”.
Ahead of the virtual swearing-in of new ministers on Tuesday, Mr Morrison said he recognised that Senator Payne had a “very demanding job” as Foreign Minister, which is why he had expanded the government’s team focused on women’s issues. “What I want from her in this portfolio is her leadership and her insight and her ability to bring people together to get these outcomes.”
Mr Morrison clarified remarks about Senator Payne being the “prime minister for women”, suggesting if he had not, he would have been accused of “having too many ministers for women”. “Of course I’m the Prime Minister. What I’m saying is that in this case, the Minister for Women is the minister that is primarily responsible for drawing together the many different women who have been given ministerial responsibilities for women.”
Mr Morrison also defended his factional ally Stuart Robert after appointing him to the key employment, workforce, skills and small and family business portfolio. The Australian understands there had been internal pushback over suggestions Mr Robert could be appointed home affairs minister, given he was previously forced to resign from the Turnbull ministry after a series of scandals.
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