Cabinet Reshuffle – February 2016
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull unveiled a reconfigured ministry on Saturday, an opportunity afforded after several vacancies arose following the retirement and resignation of a number of Cabinet members and junior Ministers.
In total, 18 Liberal and National party Senators and MPs were promoted or reshuffled, including to three newly created positions in Cabinet. Promoted Ministers and Senators include:
- The Hon Barnaby Joyce MP (NAT), who replaces Warren Truss as Leader of The Nationals to become Deputy Prime Minister, in addition to his current role as Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources
- Senator the Hon Fiona Nash (NAT), who adds Minister for Regional Development, and Minister for Regional Communications to her existing role as Minister for Rural Health, and who now becomes a new member of Cabinet
- Senator the Hon Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (LIB), who replaces Steve Ciobo Minister for International Development and the Pacific, having previously served as Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs
- The Hon Steven Ciobo MP (LIB), who replaces Andrew Robb as Minister for Trade and Investment, and now becomes a new member of Cabinet
- The Hon Andrew Robb AO MP (LIB), who will step down from his current role as a Cabinet member and Minister for Trade and Investment to support Steve Ciobo as Special Envoy for Trade, as he looks towards a future in the private sector
- Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann (LIB), who adds Special Minister of State to his existing role as Minister for Finance
- The Hon Alan Tudge MP (LIB), who has been promoted from Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister to become Minister for Human Services
- Senator the Hon James McGrath (LIB), who is now Assistant Minister for Immigration in addition to his current role as Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister
- Senator the Hon Scott Ryan (LIB), who becomes Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, following his previous position as Assistant Cabinet Secretary
- The Hon Darren Chester MP (NAT), who is now Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, having previously held the role of Assistant Minister for Defence, and who also now becomes a new member of Cabinet
- The Hon Dr Peter Hendy MP (LIB), who was formerly Assistant Minister for Productivity, and is now Assistant Minister to the Finance Minister, Mathias Cormann
- The Hon Michael McCormack MP (NAT), who adds Assistant Minister for Defence to his existing position as Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister.
The new Cabinet promotions reflect the Prime Minister’s promise to increase regional representation in Cabinet, and increases the number of members in Cabinet by one, to 22.
A number of backbenchers have also been promoted to the junior ministry, including:
- Mr Angus Taylor MP (LIB), who is now Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation
- Mr Craig Laundy MP (LIB), who is now Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs
- Mr Dan Tehan MP (LIB), who is now Minister for Defence Materiel, and Minister for Veterans Services
- Senator Matt Canavan (NAT), who is now Minister for Northern Australia
- Mr Keith Pitt MP (NAT), who is now Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister
- Mrs Jane Prentice MP (LIB), who is now Assistant Minister for Disability Services.
- In addition to the promotions, a number of Coalition MPs and Senators will move to the backbench, including:
- The Hon Warren Truss MP (NAT), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, who will retire from politics at the end of the current session of Parliament, on 17 March 2016
- The Hon Mal Brough MP (LIB), who was formerly Special Minister of State and Minister for Defence Materiel
- The Hon Stuart Robert MP (LIB), who was formerly Minister for Human Services, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC
- The Hon Luke Hartsuyker MP (NAT), who was formerly Minister for Vocational Education and Skills.
