Former Coalition ministers have lost frontbench positions while “fresh faces” have been promoted in an opposition reshuffle following the federal election that has included 10 women in the shadow cabinet.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton unveiled his frontbench on Sunday afternoon, saying the Coalition has an “incredible depth of talent” and he has brought forward some former backbenchers for new opportunities, while some allies of former prime minister Scott Morrison were demoted.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton announced the Coalition’s new frontbench on Sunday afternoon, alongside Deputy Leader David Littleproud.Credit:AAP
“I’m really genuinely excited, and I think our team will work very closely together to hold this government to account,” Dutton said.
“I’ve been very cognisant of trying to bring some of those people through for an opportunity and you’ll see that we have some very impressive appointments today.”
The number of women on the Coalition frontbench has increased to a total of 10. They include Jane Hume, who has been promoted to shadow finance spokeswoman and Sarah Henderson who is now the Coalition’s communications spokeswoman.
As widely expected, Angus Taylor has become shadow treasurer and Simon Birmingham is now foreign affairs spokesman. Former SAS officer Andrew Hastie has been promoted to Defence spokesman. Alan Tudge, who stood aside as education minister in October, returns to the education portfolio.
Member for Berowra Julian Leeser, who didn’t hold any assistant ministry positions in the Morrison government, has been promoted to shadow attorney-general and Indigenous affairs spokesman.
Other Coalition MPs to receive frontbench positions for the first time include WA senator Dean Smith, Townsville MP Phillip Thompson and Tasmanian senator Claire Chandler.
Linda Reynolds and Alex Hawke are among the former ministers who have been dumped from the Coalition frontbench altogether, while former employment minister Stuart Robert has been demoted to the junior position of shadow assistant treasurer, while former trade and tourism minister Dan Tehan has been moved to immigration spokesman.
Former prime minister Scott Morrison did not receive a frontbench portfolio, after previously flagging he would remain a backbencher until he leaves parliament.
Dutton said he has tried to strike a balance of not just gender but also experience in his 24-person frontbench team.
“I’m very proud of the team that we’ve been able to put together,” he said. “The team that we announced today I think has a great capability and a great capacity to take the fight up to Labor, to propose good policy by the time of the next election.”
The Nationals have regained the trade and tourism portfolios under Kevin Hogan, and Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie gains infrastructure, transport and regional development.
Both former Nationals leaders will also retain portfolios – Barnaby Joyce is now veterans affairs spokesman, and Michael McCormack has taken on international development and the Pacific – in a move Nationals Leader David Littleproud said acknowledges their leadership but also allows the party to foster new talent.
“The shadow ministry team that I bring forward for the National Party is about renewal and generational change,” he said.
“It’s about making sure we draw on those that have the experience to bring harmony and peace within our partyroom, but bring the next generation through.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week unveiled a record 13 women in the ministry, with 10 in cabinet. At the same time, the Liberal Party’s election defeat has been partly attributed to female voters turning away, a reality acknowledged by new deputy leader Sussan Ley last Monday.
Asked about female representation on the new opposition frontbench, Dutton said on Sunday morning “it’s important for us to have as many women as possible on the frontbench, and that will be a feature of the frontbench that we announce later today”.
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2022-06-05 07:26:30Z
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