The Liberals and Nationals have gotten the band back together after a week-long split, and they’ve jumped right into the thick of things as they unveil the new Coalition shadow ministry. Think of it like the opposition’s version of a cabinet, with MPs who take on specific portfolios (like defense, environment, or finance) and challenge the government on key issues.
With the reunion, the shadow ministry’s split up to have representatives of both parties, meaning there’s 14 Liberals and six Nationals on the list. It also marks Opposition Leader Sussan Ley‘s first shadow cabinet since being voted the new leader of the Liberal party.
Ley and Nationals leader David Littleproud handed down their picks at a press conference on Wednesday.
“Today, Dave and I have reached agreement formally to reform the coalition, and we can announce our new coalition shadow ministry,” said Ley.
“I want to thank you, David for the respectful and productive way that you and I have engaged throughout this process, and I know that we will be a great partnership going forward.”
She explained the new Coalition shadow ministry “balances experience with new talent” and every Coalition MP and senator had “a role to play, even if they are not formally in the line-up”.
“Our team is one of strivers and optimists, of leaders and listeners. We have voices from the city to the bush,” Ley said.
Who’s who is in the shadow cabinet?
Angus Taylor — who lost the leadership ballot to Ley by four votes earlier this month — has been appointed shadow defence minister while his old role of shadow treasurer will be taken up by Liberal deputy leader Ted O’Brien.
James Paterson is the new shadow finance minister and Julian Leeser returns to his old role as shadow attorney-general, having resigned from the shadow cabinet back in 2023 to campaign for the Indigenous voice referendum.
Former soldier Andrew Hastie will take on home affairs, while Dan Tehan has been given energy and emissions reduction.
Michaelia Cash is the new shadow foreign affairs ministers, Angie Bell will take the helm of the shadow environment portfolio, and Melissa McIntosh is shadow minister for women.
Newly-elected Goldstein MP Tim Wilson is given shadow minister for industrial relations, employment and small business, and Senator Dave Sharma has also joined on as shadow assistant minister for competition, charities and treasury.
Alex Hawke — who served as immigration minister in the Scott Morrison administration — has also returned to the frontbench as shadow minister for industry and innovation, having been backed by his factional ally Ley.
Among the ministers who have kept their portfolios are Nationals leader Littleproud (agriculture), Anne Ruston (health), Nationals deputy Kevin Hogan (trade) and Senate leader Bridget McKenzie (infrastructure).
And what about who’s not in the ministry? Well, there’s actually a couple of senior Coalition figures who’ve lost their frontbench spots.
One big change comes with former finance minister Jane Hume (who oversaw that *ahem* disastrous Coalition work-from-home policy) and has now been dropped from the shadow cabinet.
Ley’s denied the move was politically motivated and was “vengeance”, telling reporters Hume is an “enormously talented, fantastic member of this team”, per The Guardian.
“These are tough days and having been through many days like this myself in my parliamentary career, I recognise that. [Hume] has contributed amazingly over her political career, will continue to do so and is a strong performer across a range of different subjects,” she said.
Former Nationals leaders Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack, and Senator Matt Canavan, have also been dropped from the shadow ministry. Notably, each has questioned Littleproud’s leadership in recent weeks, including the decision to split the Coalition last week.
Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price — who defected from the Nationals to the Liberal Party — has been relegated into the outer ministry. She’ll now serve as shadow defence industry minister.
The parliament’s due to sit for the first time in late July.
With input from the AAP.
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