Wilkinson, a veteran of the breakfast television slot who is all too familiar with a pre-dawn wake-up call, had dived straight into her first interview with the new Prime Minister on Monday morning, quizzing him about the dramatic shake-up in his cabinet after he seized the leadership from Tony Abbott last week.
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Mr Turnbull made significant changes to the ministry in today’s announcement including replacing Kevin Andrews with Senator Marise Payne as Defence Minister while Scott Morrison replaced Joe Hockey as Treasurer.
Apart from Julie Bishop and Sussan Ley keeping their portfolios as foreign minister and minister for health, a number of women holding lower positions in the Abbott government have been promoted, including Marisa Payne, who stands out in the new cabinet to be the first female defense minister in Australian history. The Abbott government Human Services Minister jumps from the relative obscurity of the outer ministry to one of the government’s most important portfolios: defence minister in a time of war.
“Leaders have to make sure that there is renewal”, he told Channel Nine.
Mr Abbott was deposed as prime minister by his party just under two years after winning the 2013 federal election.
Turnbull said he thought having two women cabinet ministers out of 19, as Abbott did, was “not enough”.
Former Treasurer Mr Hockey told Mr Turnbull yesterday he did not want to nominate for a Cabinet role, instead announcing his retirement from Parliament at the end this term.
Meanwhile, the former minister for employment, Eric Abetz, has been dropped from the ministry and will no longer serve as the government’s leader in the Senate.
Ahead of a swearing-in ceremony for Australia’s new cabinet, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has already been forced to defend his choices.
With Mr Abbott’s tenure increasingly under fire, Mr McWilliam says his friend considered challenging in February this year.
Senator Colbeck (pictured above) was the Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture but under Mr Turnbull has also been elevated to be the Minister for Tourism and global Education.
Newly sworn-in Turnbull government ministers plan budget spending cuts and policy changes.
The ultra-conservative Nationals and far-right Liberals have been vocal in their disapproval of Turnbull’s ousting of Abbott, with some threatening to break ranks from the party.
Mr Hockey is expected to quit parliament next month to spend more time with his young family, triggering a by-election in his seat of North Sydney.
Kelly O’Dwyer is now the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Small Business, both positions traditionally held by men.
“The Prime Minister’s commitment to a renewed and reinvigorated focus on implementing a policy vision for the economy will boost business, consumer and investor confidence and Master Builders welcomes the appointment of Hon”.
Mr Abbott has not been offered a position in the new-look ministry.
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Briggs was formerly the assistant minister for infrastructure and represents the electorate of Mayo on the outskirts of Adelaide, South Australia, an electorate classified by the Australian Electoral Commission as rural.
