Scott Morrison names new team in cabinet reshuffle
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has stamped his authority on the government with a significant reshuffle that elevates some of his closest allies, keeps seven women in cabinet and demotes former environment minister Melissa Price.
Mr Morrison said his new team would have a focus on "service delivery" for Australians, giving a substantial new role to Stuart Robert, who moves into cabinet to manage service delivery and the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Ken Wyatt, an Indigenous Australian and Liberal MP from Western Australia, becomes Minister for Indigenous Affairs in an elevation to cabinet from his previous position in the outer ministry.
Attorney-General Christian Porter continues in this role but gains a super-sized portfolio by gaining responsibility for industrial relations, a key area where the government faces attacks from Labor and the union movement.
As revealed by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age earlier on Sunday, the Prime Minister cleared room in the new ministry by appointing two senators, Arthur Sinodinos and Mitch Fifield, to key diplomatic posts.
Senator Sinodinos will become ambassador to the United States to replace Joe Hockey later this year, while Senator Fifield will go to New York as ambassador to the United Nations.
Michaelia Cash, who was demoted to Minister for Small and Family Business in the wake of last year's leadership spill, keeps these roles and her position in cabinet and also becomes Minister for Jobs.
Marise Payne remains the Minister for Foreign Affairs and gains the additional role of Minister for Women.
Those keeping their roles include Simon Birmingham in trade, who is also confirmed as deputy leader of the government in the Senate after serving as the Coalition campaign spokesman during the election.
Dan Tehan remains in education, Linda Reynolds is confirmed in the defence portfolio, Greg Hunt continues in health and Peter Dutton remains in the home affairs portfolio.
Paul Fletcher, previously the Minister for Families and Social Services in the ministry announced last August, becomes Minister for Communications to replace Senator Fifield.
Melissa Price becomes Minister for Defence Industry and loses her cabinet position. Ms Price was elevated to cabinet last August as Minister for the Environment, an area where the government came under fire from Labor and the Greens but prevailed in key Queensland electorates on the Adani coal mine.
Karen Andrews remains in cabinet as Minister for Industry.
Angus Taylor remains Minister for Energy as announced last August.
Alan Tudge moves up into cabinet while remaining Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population.
Anne Ruston will move into cabinet as Minister for Families and Social Services, while also taking on more responsibilities in the Senate.
Sussan Ley will become Minister for Environment in cabinet, a return to a senior role after she was demoted by former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull after reports about her use of parliamentary expenses.
The reshuffle follows the departure at the election of five ministers: Christopher Pyne, Kelly O'Dwyer, Steve Ciobo and Nigel Scullion from cabinet, as well as Michael Keenan from the outer ministry.
With Liberal Party deputy leader Josh Frydenberg as Treasurer, the government's core economic team includes Finance Minister Mathias Cormann who also becomes Special Minister of State, a role he has held before.
Michael Sukkar becomes Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Housing to focus on the home loan scheme for first-home buyers the government promised during the federal election campaign.
More to come.