Second Morrison Ministry Announced
26 May 2019
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has unveiled his new ministry this afternoon for the 46th Parliament, announcing a number of promotions to fill vacancies created by departing senior ministers, while opting for continuity in key portfolios. Mr Morrison also announced former ministers Arthur Sinodinos and Mitch Fifield will take up diplomatic posts in the United States later this year, making way for generational change in the ministerial line-up. PM Morrison said all ministers and departments will be charged with lifting and improving service delivery, including “congestion busting on regulatory and bureaucratic roadblocks”. The ministry will be sworn in on Wednesday; the full ministry list is available here.
Notably, Paul Fletcher replaces Mitch Fifield as Minister for Communications and Cyber Safety and Minister for the Arts. Sussan Ley returns to Cabinet as Environment Minister, replacing Melissa Price, who has been shifted outside of Cabinet to the role of Minister for Defence Industry. Stuart Robert also joins Cabinet as Minister for Government Services and Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. A new Services Australia agency will be established – modelled on the NSW Government’s Services NSW – to make it easier for Australians to deal with the services they rely on.
WA MP Ken Wyatt becomes the first indigenous Cabinet minister, taking on the role of Minister for Indigenous Australians, supported by a new National Indigenous Australians agency attached to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Alan Tudge has been promoted to Cabinet, retaining his role as Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population.
The PM said the Cabinet will include record representation of women, with seven taking on senior roles, including Nationals Deputy Leader Bridget McKenzie as the first female Minister for Agriculture. Foreign Minister Marise Payne adds Minister for Women to her role, while Anne Ruston joins Cabinet as Minister for Families and Social Services. Senator Ruston will also serve as Manager of Government Business in the Senate.
As expected, the Coalition’s economic team will remain the same, led by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann. Michaelia Cash expands her existing portfolio to take on Employment and will be supported by fellow Western Australian Steve Irons, who becomes Assistant Minister for Vocational Education, Training and Apprenticeships.
As the PM previously flagged, Linda Reynolds takes on the role of Minister for Defence, replacing retiring MP Christopher Pyne. Energy Minister Angus Taylor has added responsibility for emissions reduction to his role, while David Littleproud has been appointed Minister for Water Resources, Drought, Rural Finance, Natural Disaster and Emergency Management. Barnaby Joyce will no longer serve as special envoy for the drought, while Queensland MP Warren Entsch will become special envoy for the Great Barrier Reef.
Michael Sukkar enters the ministry as Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Housing, taking responsibility for the Government’s First Home Loan Deposit Scheme. Alex Hawke will serve as Minister for International Development and the Pacific – which has been elevated to ministry level – as well as Assistant Defence Minister. Richard Colbeck has been elevated to Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians – an important role with a Royal Commission underway – as well as Minister for Youth and Sport, while Mark Coulton has been promoted to Minister for Regional Services, Decentralisation and Local Government.
Christian Porter continues as Attorney-General and will become Leader of the House, while also taking on the responsibility of Minister for Industrial Relations. Greg Hunt will remain Minister for Health and will be charged with leading the Government’s efforts to address youth and indigenous mental health.
There are a number of new faces in the assistant ministry, including Victorian Senator Jane Hume, who has been appointed Assistant Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and Financial Technology. Trevor Evans will take on the new role of Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management, while fellow Queenslander Luke Howarth becomes Assistant Minister for Community Housing, Homelessness and Community Services. WA MP Ben Morton will be Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Other key ministers who will retain their existing portfolios include Infrastructure and Transport Minister and Deputy PM Michael McCormack; Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton; Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister Simon Birmingham; Immigration Minister David Coleman; and Education Minister Dan Tehan. Karen Andrews remains Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, while Matt Canavan holds on to Resources and Northern Australia and Darren Chester will remain Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel.
Meanwhile, former cabinet minister and NSW senator Arthur Sinodinos is poised to become Australia’s new ambassador to the United States, replacing Joe Hockey. The PM will also recommend to the Governor-General that former cabinet minister and Victorian senator Mitch Fifield is appointed ambassador to the United Nations, based in New York.