Renewing the political process

“You don’t need to be a quota. If you are good enough, you can get in.’’ Newly promoted Defence Industry Minister Linda Reynolds, who served for 35 years in the Australian Army Reserve and was the first woman in the reserves to be promoted to the rank of brigadier, yesterday made a pertinent point about the value of promoting on merit. Her elevation to cabinet takes the Morrison government to seven women cabinet ministers, which is a record. After months of complaints, some of them internal, about the Coalition’s track record on endorsing and promoting women, Senator Reynolds’s argument is important. As in all spheres of the workforce, promotions on merit ensure those in senior positions are the best equipped for decision-making roles.

The retirement of Defence Minister Christopher Pyne and former defence industry minister Steven Ciobo has added to Scott Morrison’s difficulties so close to the election, when his government is trailing the opposition 53-47 on the two-party preferred vote in Newspoll. Coming on top of the departures of Jobs Minister Kelly O’Dwyer, Human Services Minister Michael Keenan and Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion, who are also leaving politics at the next election, the moves create the impression of a government giving up ahead of a looming defeat.

Renewal, however, is an essential part of politics on both sides, bringing fresh talent and ideas to the political arena. And Bill Shorten’s “retirement list” includes five members of the opposition frontbench — Kate Ellis, Jacinta Collins, Jenny Macklin, Gai Brodtmann and Doug Cameron — as well as several Labor backbenchers.

When former foreign minister Julie Bishop announced her retirement from her safe seat of Curtin, she predicted a Coalition election win. But Ms Bishop did not help the government yesterday with her ruminations about whether she would have beaten Mr Shorten had her colleagues elected her leader in August. She scored 11 votes and lost in the first round. Knowing when to go, and when to keep quiet, especially at the end of a political career, are important political skills.