Federal Cabinet Announcement: The First Albanese Ministry

Tuesday 31 May 2022

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has tonight confirmed that Labor will form a majority government, after it claimed the seats of Macnamara and Gilmore, bringing the party’s total to 77 in the House of Representatives. Following this, the Prime Minister announced his Cabinet, revealing a record number of women and noting that his Ministry “is far more representative than any government party room has ever been in our history”.

As expected, Richard Marles has been confirmed as Deputy Prime Minister and will also take on Minister for Defence. Senator Penny Wong will become Senate Leader and will also retain the Foreign Affairs portfolio. Meanwhile, Jim Chalmers will retain the role of Treasurer and Katy Gallagher will also remain as the Minister for Finance and Minister for Women.

While the Prime Minister had previously indicated that his preference was to introduce minimal changes, there were some surprising shifts within the Cabinet. Former Shadow Minister for Housing Jason Clare will serve as Minister for Education, while former Shadow Education Minister Tanya Plibersek will serve as Minister for Environment and Water. Meanwhile, the lone Tasmanian in the Ministry, Julie Collins, will be Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness and Minister for Small Business.

New faces in Cabinet include Queensland’s Senator Murray Watt as Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Emergency Management, and Clare O’Neil as Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Cyber Security. In the Outer Ministry, Anne Aly becomes Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth, Anika Wells as Minister for Aged Care and the Minister for Sport, and Kristy McBain as Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories.

The portfolios of Housing, Public Service, Special Minister of State and NDIS have been brought into the Cabinet, but Veterans’ Affairs has been removed. In addition, the Prime Minister announced that Patrick Dodson has been named as a special envoy for reconciliation and the implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, highlighting this as a key priority for his Government.

While most of the Cabinet have retained their portfolios from Opposition, there has been some changes. Please find the full list of the Ministry below.

Cabinet:

  • The Hon. Anthony Albanese MP – Prime Minister
  • The Hon. Richard Marles MP — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence
  • Senator the Hon. Penny Wong — Senate Leader and Minister for Foreign Affairs
  • Senator the Hon. Don Farrell — Deputy Senate Leader, Minister for Trade and Tourism and Special Minister of State
  • The Hon. Dr Jim Chalmers MP — Treasurer
  • Senator the Hon. Katy Gallagher — Minister for Finance, Minister for Public Service and Minister for Women
  • The Hon. Tony Burke MP — Leader of the House, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Minister for the Arts
  • The Hon. Mark Butler MP — Deputy Leader of the House and Minister of Health and Aged Care
  • The Hon. Chris Bowen MP — Minister for Climate Change and Energy
  • The Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP — Minister for Environment and Water
  • The Hon. Catherine King MP — Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
  • The Hon. Linda Burney MP — Minister for Indigenous Australians
  • The Hon. Amanda Rishworth MP — Minister for Social Services
  • The Hon. Bill Shorten MP — Minister for the NDIS and Minister for Government Services
  • The Hon. Mark Dreyfus QC MP — Attorney General and Cabinet Secretary
  • The Hon. Brendan O’Connor MP — Minister for Skills and Training
  • The Hon. Jason Clare MP — Minister for Education
  • The Hon. Julie Collins MP — Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness and Minister for Small Business
  • Michelle Rowland MP — Minister for Communications
  • Madeleine King MP — Minister for Resources and Minister for Northern Australia
  • Senator Murray Watt — Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Emergency Management
  • Ed Husic MP — Minister for Industry and Science
  • Clare O’Neil MP — Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Cyber Security

Outer Ministry:

  • Matt Keogh MP – Minister for Veterans Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel
  • Pat Conroy MP – Minister for Defence Industry and Minister for International Development and the Pacific
  • Stephen Jones MP – Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services
  • Andrew Giles MP – Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs
  • Anne Aly MP – Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth
  • Anika Wells MP – Minister for Aged Care and Minister for Sport
  • Kristy McBain MP – Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories

Assistant Ministry:

  • The Hon. Justine Elliot MP – Assistant Minister for Social Services and Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence
  • The Hon. Matt Thistlethwaite MP – Assistant Minister for Defence, Assistant Minister for Veterans Affairs and Assistant Minister for the Republic
  • The Hon. Dr Andrew Leigh MP – Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury
  • Patrick Gorman MP – Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister
  • Senator Jenny McAllister – Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy
  • Senator Carol Brown – Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
  • Ged Kearney MP – Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care
  • Emma McBride MP – Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health
  • Senator Malarndirri McCarthy – Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians and Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health
  • Senator Tim Ayres – Assistant Minister for Trade and Assistant Minister for Manufacturing
  • Senator Anthony Chisholm – Assistant Minister for Education and Assistant Minister for Regional Development
  • Tim Watts MP – Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs

Contact GRACosway

For more information about the Federal Cabinet announcement, or to enquire about our multi-partisan public affairs and government relations services, please contact a senior member of our team.

Richard King
Managing Partner – Public Affairs
M: +61 407 766 633
E: [email protected]

 

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