Coalition reunites; new shadow ministry, Anne Ruston to retain aged care
The Liberals and Nationals have reunited under a new Coalition agreement, just a week after Nationals leader David Littleproud announced the Party would hold their 15 seats in parliament independently.
The agreement was confirmed following a virtual Nationals party room meeting last Wednesday.
While the break up lasted merely days, the threat would have undone the Coalition for the first time since the 1987 federal election.
Fissures between the parties settled after the Liberal Party room agreed “in principle” to the four policy demands set by the Nationals.
The policy requests centred on lifting the moratorium on nuclear power, a $20bn regional development fund, supermarket divestiture powers and calling on providers to increase coverage for mobile and internet providers.
Following Wednesday’s reconciliation, Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley wasted no time in announcing her frontbench line-up, which saw South Australian Senator Anne Ruston, known for her tenacity during the negotiations of Labor’s Aged Care Act and continued focus on care waitlist times, has retained the position of shadow minister for health, aged care and sport, adding the disability and NDIS portfolios to her responsibilities.
“Australia’s care systems are world-leading, but there is no doubt that they face significant and unaddressed challenges,” Senator Ruston said in a statement on Wednesday.
“I have long said that we need to address the challenges facing Australia’s entire care sector with a comprehensive, cohesive and collaborative approach.
“I look forward to adding the portfolio of disability and the NDIS to my responsibilities, and to working closely with all of the stakeholders across our care systems on solutions to address these challenges together – along with shadow assistant ministers Phillip Thompson OAM MP, Zoe McKenzie MP, and Sam Birrell MP.”
Federal member for Flinders Zoe McKenzie is the shadow assistant minister for mental health, as well as shadow assistant minister for education and early learning, Sam Birrell from Nicholls has been named the shadow assistant minister for regional education and regional health, and Herbert’s Phillip Thompson will be the shadow assistant minister for the NDIS and defence.
Senator Ruston said she plans to continue to press the Albanese government for better care for all Australians.
“The Coalition will continue to focus on real outcomes to ensure all Australians have timely and affordable access to the care they need. We understand that their health and wellbeing is so important to them,” she said.
“Many promises were made on Medicare at the election. We will hold the Government to account on delivering them.”
Not without controversy
After Labor's landslide win, the Liberal Party was forced to acknowledge its longstanding “women problem.”
Yet the shadow ministry announcement came with the ousting of high-profile Liberal Senator Jane Hume
The former finance spokeswoman was demoted to the back bench in the new-look Coalition line-up, with the National’s Senate leader Bridget McKenzie telling the ABC she was “shocked” at the decision.
“I didn’t expect her to be not in the shadow ministry at all,” Senator McKenzie said.
“I’m being incredibly honest. I, like you, was watching the live feed. Other than a couple of positions in our own party, I wasn’t aware of the full list.
“This is Sussan Ley saying this is the type of leader of the Liberal Party I’m going to be; this is my team I’m taking forward.
“They’re decisions for her and really she needs to answer the whys.”
While Senator Hume faced criticism for pushing the Coalition’s unpopular call to end work-from-home conditions for public servants, and for claiming that Chinese spies were aiding Labor at voting booths, Senator McKenzie was adamant “Jane Hume was not the reason we lost the last election”.
“The work from home policy and was a huge part of that, but until we actually unpack all the reasons – the campaign, policy rollout, tactic strategy in the research – I think we can’t really answer that question.”
Alongside Senator Hume, former education spokeswoman Sarah Henderson was also dumped from Sussan Ley’s front bench.
The Opposition Leader declined to reflect on “private conversations” between herself and Senator Hume, but said the former shadow frontbencher would continue to contribute to the Coalition.
“These are tough days and having been through many days like this myself in my parliamentary career, I recognise that,” she said.
“But what I want to say about Jane Hume is she is an enormously talented, fantastic member of this team, who has contributed amazingly over her political career, will continue to do so and is a strong performer across a range of different subjects.”
In other key shifts, Ted O’Brien will be shadow treasurer, while James Paterson has been promoted to the Coalition spokesman for finance, government services and the public service.
Julian Leeser, who was demoted to the backbench following his stance on the Voice referendum, has also been installed as the shadow Attorney-General, in addition to the shadow arts portfolio.
Angus Taylor has also been shifted from shadow treasurer to defence, while Dan Tehan will be energy and emissions reductions spokesman.
Former shadow Attorney-General Michaelia Cash has been given foreign affairs, while Nationals defector Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has been shifted from her portfolio of Indigenous Australians to defence industry and defence personnel.
WA MP Andrew Hastie, who has been touted as the future leader of the Liberal Party, has moved from defence to home affairs.
As expected, former Nationals leaders Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack and Nationals contender Matt Canavan missed out on cabinet positions.
While her seat is currently subject to a recount, potential Bradfield MP Gisele Kapterian has also been given the shadow assistant portfolio for communications should she win the seat, while Melissa McIntosh has been minted as the Coalition communications spokeswoman.
A key ally of Ms Ley and former prime minister Scott Morrison, Mitchell MP Alex Hawke, has also been welcomed back to the shadow cabinet as spokesman for industry and innovation.
Angus Taylor has also been shifted from shadow treasurer to defence following his challenge for Opposition leadership.
Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer.
New Shadow Cabinet
Sussan Ley – Leader of the Opposition
David Littleproud – Nationals Leader, Coalition spokesman for agriculture
Ted O’Brien – Shadow Treasurer
Julian Leeser – Shadow Attorney-General and the arts
Kevin Hogan – Nationals Deputy Leader, and Coalition spokesman for trade, investment and tourism
Michaelia Cash – Coalition spokeswoman for foreign affairs
Angus Taylor – Coalition spokesman for defence
Andrew Hastie – Coalition spokesman for home affairs
James Paterson – Coalition spokesman for finance, the public service, and government services
Anne Ruston – Coalition spokeswoman for health and aged care, the NDIS, and sport
Andrew Bragg – Coalition spokesman for housing and homelessness, and productivity and deregulation
Dan Tehan – Coalition spokesman for energy and emissions reduction
Angie Bell – Coalition spokeswoman for the environment, and youth
Melissa McIntosh – Coalition spokeswoman for women, communications
Tim Wilson – Coalition spokesman for small business, and industrial relations and employment
Darren Chester – Coalition spokesman for Veterans’ Affairs
Ross Cadell – Coalition spokesman for water, fisheries and forestry, and emergency management
Kerrynne Liddle – Coalition spokeswoman for Indigenous Australians, social services
James McGrath – Special Minister of State, urban infrastructure and cities and Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Susan McDonald – Coalition spokeswoman for resources and northern Australia
Jonathon Duniam – Coalition spokesman for education and early learning
Alex Hawke – Coalition spokesman for industry and innovation
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