Reshuffle requests mount for Turnbull

Malcolm Turnbull faces demands from Queensland MPs and country Liberals for greater cabinet representation.

Malcolm Turnbull is weighing options for a cabinet reshuffle. Picture: James Croucher.

Malcolm Turnbull faces demands from Queensland MPs and country Liberals for greater representation around the cabinet table, as he prepares to shape the ministry that could take him to the next ­federal election.

Government sources said the Prime Minister was still deciding whether to do a “minimal tidy up” — simply filling vacant ministry positions caused by the dual-­citizenship crisis and illness — or a more comprehensive reshuffle.

The shake-up is likely to occur next week after the mid-year budget update or early in the new year.

Country Liberal MPs are vying for a cabinet position, with Veterans’ Affairs Minister Dan Tehan and Assistant Minister for Cities Angus Taylor named by colleagues as in line for promotion.

Queenslanders are also pushing for another cabinet minister amid speculation Attorney-­General George Brandis will ­resign to become Australia’s high commissioner to London.

“You’ve only got to look at the recent (Queensland) state election where we should’ve done much better but there’s a perception rightly or wrongly that Queensland is often ignored (by the government),” Liberal National Party senator Ian Macdonald said.

A number of Coalition MPs are eager for Mr Turnbull to use his “authority” to conduct a broader reshuffle, especially if John ­Alexander reclaims his seat of Bennelong in tomorrow’s by-­election against Labor ­candidate Kristina Keneally.

Others were cautious about making too many “unnecessary” changes, though predicted the ­extent of the reshuffle could hinge on the by-election result.

Mr ­Turnbull has flagged a ­desire to bring “new young ­people” into cabinet.

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 Nationals are down to 21 MPs after Ms Nash’s departure, meaning the junior Coalition partner would technically be entitled to four ministers in a cabinet of between 20 and 22 parliament­arians.

Several Liberals conceded it would help keep the peace if Mr Turnbull maintained five cabinet spots for the Nationals, with the party’s new deputy leader Bridget McKenzie to be catapulted into the ministry.

John Williams, the Nationals’ sole remaining NSW senator after the citizenship fiasco, said the quota should stay at five Nationals cabinet ministers but he “totally understood” if it was reduced under the formula that determines how many Liberals and Nationals get cabinet places.

“It all comes down to numbers, as John Howard said,” Senator Williams told The Australian.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton will become the Home Affairs Minister, overseeing immigration, border protection and domestic security and law enforcement agencies from early 2018.

Social Services Minister Christian Porter was named by several MPs as a contender to take over as attorney-general, while it was also suggested Human Services Minister Alan Tudge could be promoted to Mr Porter’s cabinet role.