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Turnbull cabinet: Pyne given defence industry role as Frydenberg gains environment Turnbull cabinet: Pyne given defence industry role as Frydenberg gains environment
(about 2 hours later)
Prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has announced a frontbench reshuffle, including promoting LNP senator Matthew Canavan into cabinet and adding environment to Josh Frydenberg’s portfolio. The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, has ignored calls to return Tony Abbott to the frontbench, and he’s left Tasmanians out of his cabinet altogether, despite making more personnel changes than expected in his post-election reshuffle.
At a media conference in Canberra on Monday, Turnbull said the reshuffle would provide “stability and continuity”, with most ministers reappointed to their roles as promised before the election on 2 July. Nationals MPs and junior conservatives have been given more responsibility, but two senior female ministers have lost key parts of their portfolios.
Turnbull explained the Nationals would increase their representation, with Canavan promoted to cabinet and Michael McCormack becoming minister for small business. Turnbull announced his reshuffle on Monday, despite vote counting still continuing, saying his reshuffle would provide “stability and continuity” with most ministers reappointed to their roles as promised before the election on 2 July.
But some of his moves have raised eyebrows, such as his decision to take away the small business portfolio from Kelly O’Dwyer, removing it from cabinet altogether –despite his insistence on the importance of small business to the economy.
He also decided not to reappoint Tasmanian Senator Richard Colbeck to his new-look Cabinet, because Colbeck is still battling to retain his seat with the vote count undecided.
“I am extremely disappointed to have to relinquish my portfolio,” he said in a statement.
“But I have to agree with the prime minister that the need to finalise a new team and the uncertainty relating to my Senate seat made it impossible to wait.”
Turnbull has created a super-portfolio of environment and energy, handing it to former resources minister Josh Frydenberg.
Former environment minister Greg Hunt will now be in charge of industry, innovation and science.
Christopher Pyne has been appointed to a new role of minister of defence industry, to be situated within the Defence portfolio. It means there has been a significant reduction in responsibilities for Defence Minister Marise Payne.
Turnbull says Pyne will have responsibility for the Coalition’s new defence industry plan in its Defence white paper, which includes the “most significant naval shipbuilding program since the Second World War.”
“This is a key national economic development role,” Turnbull said.
“The Minister for Defence Industry will oversee the naval shipbuilding plan which will itself create 3,600 new direct jobs and thousands more across the supply chain across Australia.”
LNP senator Matthew Canavan has been promoted to cabinet for the first time, becoming minister for resources and Northern Australia, while Michael McCormack will become minister for small business in the outer ministry.
reshuffle has upset the small business community because he has taken
Peter Strong, the chief executive of the Council of Small Business of Australia, said Turnbull’s decision to drop the small business portfolio from cabinet means there will be no one in cabinet who will be be to barrack for is no longer an official representative of small business in cabinet.
“If the government had a look at who has been the greatest supporter of what’s being done in its budget, you’d have to say it was small business,” Strong said.
Asked about the decision to dump the small business portfolio from cabinet, despite the emphasis his party puts on it in its messaging, Turnbull said the small business community need not worry.
“Every minister is a Minister for Small Business,” he said. “Right across the board, small business is a relentless focus of every minister, although there is one minister who has that as his title.”
Related: Coalition urged not to water down superannuation changesRelated: Coalition urged not to water down superannuation changes
In cabinet, the key changes were: In cabinet, the key changes are:
In the outer ministry:In the outer ministry:
Assistant ministers (formally known as parliamentary secretaries) included:Assistant ministers (formally known as parliamentary secretaries) included:
Turnbull also announced three new assistant ministers:Turnbull also announced three new assistant ministers:
Turnbull explained the changes were necessary after MPs Wyatt Roy and Peter Hendy lost their seats. He said Richard Colbeck was not assured of holding his Senate seat in Tasmania, and could return to the ministry in future if he won.Turnbull explained the changes were necessary after MPs Wyatt Roy and Peter Hendy lost their seats. He said Richard Colbeck was not assured of holding his Senate seat in Tasmania, and could return to the ministry in future if he won.