Jane Hume, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Angus Taylor. Price will assume the skills and training portfolio. Photo: Facebook.
Angus Taylor has unveiled a new Opposition frontbench that rewards his right-wing supporters, punishes several moderates who backed Sussan Ley, and forgives suspended Nationals who recently broke shadow cabinet solidarity.
The Opposition Leader has declared a “fresh beginning” for the Coalition, which is floundering in the polls while being trounced not only by Labor but also by One Nation.
Two of Mr Taylor’s key backers, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Sarah Henderson, are back in the shadow ministry with the skills and training portfolio and the communications portfolio, respectively.
Andrew Hastie returns to the front bench covering industry and sovereign capability. Photo: Andrew Hastie.
Ultra-conservative Andrew Hastie returns from the backbench to a newly created industry and sovereign capability shadow ministry, while also taking on the role of deputy Liberal leader in the House of Representatives, as the actual deputy leader, Jane Hume, is in the Senate.
As deputy leader, Senator Hume got to pick her own portfolio and is now the shadow employment and industrial relations minister.
Moderate MP Tim Wilson got a huge promotion to be named shadow treasurer, replacing Ted O’Brien, who is now shadow foreign minister.
Tasmanian Senator Claire Chandler was also a big winner, being appointed shadow finance minister and shadow public service minister to face off against senior Labor Minister Katy Gallagher.
“Tony Pasin will back her [Senator Chandler] in as shadow minister for scrutiny of government waste and accountability, taking aim at Labor’s rorts and waste that are driving up inflation and contributing to higher prices for your groceries, electricity and housing,” Mr Taylor said.
Melissa McIntosh will take on the role of shadow minister for families and social services, shadow minister for the NDIS, and shadow minister for women.
Jonno Duniam keeps the home affairs portfolio and gets immigration added to it, while James Paterson moves from finance to defence, and Michaelia Cash remains as shadow attorney-general and Leader of the Opposition in the Senate.
Dan Tehan retains the energy portfolio and also becomes the Manager of Opposition Business in the House of Representatives.
“This is a team that blends proven experience with the next generation of Coalition talent,” Mr Taylor said of his whole frontbench.
“A team built to do two things. First, prosecute Labor’s failures – the worst government in our nation’s history. Second, ensure the Coalition is ready to govern and change Australia for the better.
“A Coalition government that I lead will restore Australians’ standard of living and protect our way of life.”
Big losers in the shuffle are some key supporters of Ms Ley, who lost the Liberal leadership to Mr Taylor 17 votes to 34 in a partyroom ballot on Friday (13 February).
Alex Hawke, Paul Scarr, Andrew Wallace, Melissa Price, Scott Buchholz and Jason Wood have all been sent to the backbench.
But other moderates and Ley supporters have retained their roles: Andrew Bragg keeps the housing minister role, with the addition of the environment portfolio; Anne Ruston keeps the health and ageing portfolio; and Julian Leeser retains education and also gets the Indigenous Australians portfolio.
The Nationals members of the shadow ministry will continue in their previous roles, including Bridget McKenzie, Ross Cadell and Susan McDonald, who were recently sin-binned for defying Ms Ley to cross the floor over hate speech legislation.
Before the change of Opposition Leader, those three nationals were partway through a six-week suspension from the shadow ministry, but Mr Taylor has welcomed them back as of now.
“Today marks a fresh beginning,” Mr Taylor said on Tuesday (17 February).
“An opportunity to put the past behind us and to remember that our historic strength has always come through unity. And unity is again needed for strength.
“This is a team with one purpose – to restore Australians’ standard of living and protect our way of life. Because Australia is worth fighting for.”
Following Mr Taylor’s unveiling of the new frontbench, shadow ministers immediately issued separate statements pledging their loyalty to the new leader and thanking him for placing his trust in them.
