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Cabinet reshuffle: Malcolm Turnbull tipped to offer Steve Ciobo trade in new line-up Cabinet reshuffle: Malcolm Turnbull tipped to offer Steve Ciobo trade in new line-up
(7 months later)
The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, will attempt to push past the controversies and internal tensions of the past parliamentary week with a long-anticipated refresh of his frontbench over the weekend.The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, will attempt to push past the controversies and internal tensions of the past parliamentary week with a long-anticipated refresh of his frontbench over the weekend.
The prime minister and the new Nationals leader, Barnaby Joyce, were in discussions on Friday night about the allocation of new portfolios for the junior coalition partner in the revamp.The prime minister and the new Nationals leader, Barnaby Joyce, were in discussions on Friday night about the allocation of new portfolios for the junior coalition partner in the revamp.
The Nationals will take three cabinet spots, with Joyce said to favour remaining in his agriculture ministry.The Nationals will take three cabinet spots, with Joyce said to favour remaining in his agriculture ministry.
The new Nationals deputy leader, Fiona Nash, who will move into the cabinet, told the ABC on Friday night she would discuss her specific portfolio options with Joyce once his deliberations with the prime minister had concluded.The new Nationals deputy leader, Fiona Nash, who will move into the cabinet, told the ABC on Friday night she would discuss her specific portfolio options with Joyce once his deliberations with the prime minister had concluded.
The Queensland Liberal Steve Ciobo is widely tipped to take the trade portfolio after the decision this week by the trade minister, Andrew Robb, to retire at the forthcoming election and step back into an “envoy” role for the remainder of his time as a parliamentarian.The Queensland Liberal Steve Ciobo is widely tipped to take the trade portfolio after the decision this week by the trade minister, Andrew Robb, to retire at the forthcoming election and step back into an “envoy” role for the remainder of his time as a parliamentarian.
There is an expectation in government ranks that the Nationals MP Darren Chester, who missed out on a leadership position on Thursday, and the Victorian Liberal MP Dan Tehan, are likely to enter the outer ministry in the revamp.There is an expectation in government ranks that the Nationals MP Darren Chester, who missed out on a leadership position on Thursday, and the Victorian Liberal MP Dan Tehan, are likely to enter the outer ministry in the revamp.
There was also some internal speculation on Friday that Turnbull could elevate the NSW Liberal MP Angus Taylor, who faces pre-selection headaches in his seat of Hume.There was also some internal speculation on Friday that Turnbull could elevate the NSW Liberal MP Angus Taylor, who faces pre-selection headaches in his seat of Hume.
Related: Stuart Robert loses job as minister after China trip furore
The reshuffle, expected to be unveiled by the prime minister in Sydney on Saturday afternoon, comes as Turnbull on Friday moved against the human services minister, Stuart Robert, after days of political bombardment by the Labor opposition.The reshuffle, expected to be unveiled by the prime minister in Sydney on Saturday afternoon, comes as Turnbull on Friday moved against the human services minister, Stuart Robert, after days of political bombardment by the Labor opposition.
Robert was dumped from the ministry for acting inconsistently with the government’s statement of ministerial standards after he undertook a controversial visit to Beijing. Robert accompanied a political donor, Paul Marks, on a business trip, and then met a Chinese government minister, reportedly in the presence of executives from Nimrod Resources.Robert was dumped from the ministry for acting inconsistently with the government’s statement of ministerial standards after he undertook a controversial visit to Beijing. Robert accompanied a political donor, Paul Marks, on a business trip, and then met a Chinese government minister, reportedly in the presence of executives from Nimrod Resources.
Robert’s exit from the ministry on Friday follows the departure late last year of the then cities minister, Jamie Briggs, after an incident with a public servant in a Hong Kong bar and a decision that the then special minister of state, Mal Brough, should step aside for the duration of the Australian Federal Police investigation into his conduct during the James Ashby controversy.Robert’s exit from the ministry on Friday follows the departure late last year of the then cities minister, Jamie Briggs, after an incident with a public servant in a Hong Kong bar and a decision that the then special minister of state, Mal Brough, should step aside for the duration of the Australian Federal Police investigation into his conduct during the James Ashby controversy.
The dumping of Robert and the recent process of internal deliberations over tax policy have exposed residual government tensions hanging over from the leadership change from Tony Abbott to Malcolm Turnbull.The dumping of Robert and the recent process of internal deliberations over tax policy have exposed residual government tensions hanging over from the leadership change from Tony Abbott to Malcolm Turnbull.