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Sussan Ley adds aged care to her duties as health and sport minister Sussan Ley adds aged care to her duties as health and sport minister
(35 minutes later)
Sussan Ley has had the aged care portfolio added to the health and sport portfolios she already manages in the Turnbull ministry during a supplementary swearing-in ceremony in Canberra on Wednesday.Sussan Ley has had the aged care portfolio added to the health and sport portfolios she already manages in the Turnbull ministry during a supplementary swearing-in ceremony in Canberra on Wednesday.
Ley would not say specifically why she was not sworn into the aged care portfolio during the first induction ceremony, explaining to reporters on Wednesday that a “machinery of government change” had to occur first.
Aged care did not have its own portfolio under Tony Abbott, leading Labor to say that it had been neglected. Ley said it was “common sense” that aged care would sit alongside health in the ministry.
The ceremony also inducted Australia’s first minister of Indigenous heritage, Ken Wyatt, to assistant health minister.The ceremony also inducted Australia’s first minister of Indigenous heritage, Ken Wyatt, to assistant health minister.
Related: Malcolm Turnbull names new ministry, promoting women and supportersRelated: Malcolm Turnbull names new ministry, promoting women and supporters
In 2010 Wyatt was the first Aboriginal person elected to the House of Representatives. Before that, he was the director of Aboriginal health within both the Western Australian and New South Wales health departments.In 2010 Wyatt was the first Aboriginal person elected to the House of Representatives. Before that, he was the director of Aboriginal health within both the Western Australian and New South Wales health departments.
He missed the initial swearing-in ceremony, which took place last Monday, because he was in the US as part of an official parliamentary delegation.He missed the initial swearing-in ceremony, which took place last Monday, because he was in the US as part of an official parliamentary delegation.
Ley said she put her hand up “to bring responsibility for aged care back to health and give it a seat at the cabinet table”.Ley said she put her hand up “to bring responsibility for aged care back to health and give it a seat at the cabinet table”.
“Bringing the aged care portfolio to sit alongside the ministries of health and sport will complement our integrated health system,” Ley said. “We know aged care plays an important role in the overall health system and this move will benefit all Australians, particularly those over the age of 65.”“Bringing the aged care portfolio to sit alongside the ministries of health and sport will complement our integrated health system,” Ley said. “We know aged care plays an important role in the overall health system and this move will benefit all Australians, particularly those over the age of 65.”
Wyatt will work with Ley as assistant minister, with a focus on aged care.Wyatt will work with Ley as assistant minister, with a focus on aged care.
Labor criticised the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, for failing to appoint a minister for aged care when he announced his ministry after a leadership spill earlier this month.Labor criticised the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, for failing to appoint a minister for aged care when he announced his ministry after a leadership spill earlier this month.
“Older Australians, their loved ones and those who provide services and care for them will continue to be overlooked and ignored by a second Liberal prime minister,” the opposition spokesman on aged care, Shayne Neumann, said.“Older Australians, their loved ones and those who provide services and care for them will continue to be overlooked and ignored by a second Liberal prime minister,” the opposition spokesman on aged care, Shayne Neumann, said.
Related: Indigenous use of aged care services far less than that of wider populationRelated: Indigenous use of aged care services far less than that of wider population
“The Turnbull Liberal government will simply build on Tony Abbott’s shameful record of mishandling aged care issues that abandoned those living with dementia, turned ageing into a dirty word and failed to address vital aged care workforce issues.”“The Turnbull Liberal government will simply build on Tony Abbott’s shameful record of mishandling aged care issues that abandoned those living with dementia, turned ageing into a dirty word and failed to address vital aged care workforce issues.”
Turnbull’s revamped ministry saw the number of women in the cabinet rise to five, with nine in the ministry overall. Marise Payne become the first female defence minister.Turnbull’s revamped ministry saw the number of women in the cabinet rise to five, with nine in the ministry overall. Marise Payne become the first female defence minister.
Her predecessor, Kevin Andrews, was one of six Abbott ministers dumped from the frontbench.Her predecessor, Kevin Andrews, was one of six Abbott ministers dumped from the frontbench.
Ley and Wyatt were sworn in by the governor general, Sir Peter Cosgrove, at Government House in Canberra on Wednesday afternoon.Ley and Wyatt were sworn in by the governor general, Sir Peter Cosgrove, at Government House in Canberra on Wednesday afternoon.