George Brandis to become next high commissioner to the UK

Christian Porter frontrunner to become Attorney-General as George Brandis confirmed as Australia’s UK high commissioner.

Attorney-General Senator George Brandis is expected to become High Commissioner to the UK in a cabinet reshuffle. Picture: Kym Smith

Attorney-General George Brandis will become Australia’s next high commissioner to the United Kingdom in a highly anticipated move, as Malcolm Turnbull prepares to reshuffle his cabinet within days.

The Australian understands Senator Brandis will take over from Alexander Downer, whose term in the key diplomatic posting technically expired yesterday, in the new year.

Mr Downer’s term was meant to end earlier this year but he stayed on for six months on an interim basis while his replacement was decided.

Confirmation of the appointment follows more than a year of speculation about the posting. It was considered an open secret that Senator Brandis was keen on the role.

Social Services Minister Christian Porter, who was a Western Australian attorney-general and a senior state prosecutor, is the frontrunner to take over at the nation’s top law officer.

Employment Minister Michaelia Cash has also been named as a contender for the role.

Malcolm Turnbull ­has flagged a ­desire to bring “new young ­people” into cabinet, with a number of vacancies having opened up following the dual citizenship fiasco and Senator Brandis’ appointment.

The special minister of state position is up for grabs after Scott Ryan was elected Senate ­president, while the disqualification of Fiona Nash over her British citizenship has left open the regional development, regional communications and local government and territories portfolios.

There are also question marks over the industry, innovation and science ministries as Liberal MP Arthur Sinodinos takes extended sick leave because of cancer.

The Prime Minister is facing demands from country Liberals for a cabinet position, with Veterans’ Affairs Minister Dan Tehan and Assistant Minister for Cities Angus Taylor considered the next-in-line for promotion.

Mr Turnbull is expected to maintain five cabinet spots for the Nationals as the party’s new deputy leader Bridget McKenzie is catapulted into the ministry.

Queenslanders are also pushing for another cabinet minister ahead of Senator Brandis’ resignation from politics.

A Queen’s Counsel, Senator Brandis, 60, entered parliament as a senator for Queensland in 2000, serving as minister for the arts and sport in 2007 under John Howard, and Attorney-General under Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull.

He is leaving federal politics after a largely successful year, having been a key Coalition MP pushing for the legalisation of gay marriage and introducing foreign interference laws in the final week of parliament.

But Labor’s deputy leader Tanya Plibersek said Senator Brandis had not been a “successful” attorney-general.

“Same-sex marriage happened despite the government, not because of it,” she said.

“The wasteful, divisive plebiscite was designed by the opponents of marriage equality to delay the inevitable and I don’t think either Malcolm Turnbull or George Brandis can pat themselves on the back for that one.

“Diplomatic posts, important ones, shouldn’t be used to solve cabinet staffing problems.”

Liberal MP Tim Wilson said there would be a reshuffle this week.

“The reality is governments always need a bit of a refresh mid-term,” he told Sky News.