The new Coalition ministry – who’s in, who’s out and what does it mean for WA?

Cannings Purple 27 May 2019
4 mins
Linda Reynolds, Ken Wyatt, Nola Marino and Christian Porter.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced the new Coalition ministry. The leadership team is a careful balance of experience and new blood and state representation. The 23-member cabinet will also have seven women for the first time.

The public service will settle in for a new set of machinery-of-government changes, with Energy, Environment, Home Affairs, Human Services, Indigenous Affairs, Industrial Relations all appearing set for change, including new portfolio agencies.

Two new promotions to cabinet, including Linda Reynolds as Defence Minister and Ken Wyatt as Indigenous Australians Minister, bring the number of West Australians around the table up to five. A number of other West Australians have been promoted to assistant minister roles, a reward for the results posted by the Coalition in WA at the May 18 Federal Election.

Which West Australian Ministers sit in cabinet?

Linda Reynolds, Senator for Western Australia, has been promoted to Minister for Defence following the retirement of Christopher Pyne.

Ken Wyatt, Member for Hasluck, makes history as the first Indigenous person to take responsibility for Indigenous affairs, as Minister for Indigenous Australians. He will lead a new National Indigenous Australians Agency, taking the Indigenous Affairs function out of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Christian Porter, Member for Pearce, remains Attorney-General while gaining a new role as Minister for Industrial Relations.

Mathias Cormann, Senator for Western Australia, retains his role of Finance Minister but loses additional responsibility for the public service.

Michaelia Cash, Senator for Western Australia retains Minister for Employment and Skills but also picks up Small and Family Business from the retired Kelly O’Dwyer’s portfolio responsibilities.

Who else in WA got promoted?

Steve Irons, Member for Swan, was promoted to Assistant Minister for Vocational Education, Training and Apprenticeships after holding on to his marginal seat.

Nola Marino, Member for Forrest, has been promoted to Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories.

Ben Morton, previous state secretary and current Member for Tangney, has been rewarded for his role in the campaign by being appointed Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Melissa Price, Member for Durack, also moves to the defence portfolio becoming Minister for Defence Industry.

Notable promotions outside of WA:

Bridget McKenzie, the Deputy Nationals leader, has become the first female Agriculture Minister.

Jane Hume has been promoted to the Treasury portfolio as Assistant Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and Financial Technology following her success on a number of Senate committees.

Richard Colbeck has been Promoted to Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians and Minister for Youth and Sport.

Angus Taylor takes on emissions reductions, in addition to his responsibilities as Minister for Energy.

Stuart Robert, a close ally of the Prime Minister, has been promoted to Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Minister for Government Services.

Anne Ruston has been promoted to cabinet as Minister for Families and Social Services.

Alan Tudge has been promoted to cabinet, but continues in his role as Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure.

The full list:

Prime Minister The Hon Scott Morrison MP
Minister for the Public Service The Hon Scott Morrison MP
Minister for Women Senator the Hon Marise Payne
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service and Cabinet The Hon Greg Hunt MP
Minister for Indigenous Australians The Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP
Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Cabinet Mr Ben Morton MP
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development The Hon Michael McCormack MP
Minister for Water Resources, Drought, Rural Finance, Natural Disaster and Emergency Management The Hon David Littleproud MP
Minister for Regional Services, Decentralisation and Local Government The Hon Mark Coulton MP
Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport The Hon Scott Buchholz MP
Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister The Hon Andrew Gee MP
Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories Mrs Nola Marino MP
Treasurer The Hon Josh Frydenberg MP
Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure The Hon Alan Tudge MP
Assistant Minister to the Treasurer The Hon Michael Sukkar MP
Minister for Housing The Hon Michael Sukkar MP
Assistant Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and Financial Technology Senator Jane Hume
Minister for Finance (Vice-President of the Executive Council) (Leader of the Government in the Senate) Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann
Assistant Minister for Finance, Charities and Electoral Matters Senator the Hon Zed Seselja
Minister for Agriculture Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie
Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries Senator Jonathon Duniam
Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator the Hon Marise Payne
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment (Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham
Minister for International Development and the Pacific The Hon Alex Hawke MP
Assistant Trade and Investment Minister The Hon Mark Coulton MP
Assistant Minister for Regional Tourism Senator Jonathon Duniam
Attorney-General (Leader of the House) The Hon Christian Porter MP
Minister for Industrial Relations The Hon Christian Porter MP
Minister for Health The Hon Greg Hunt MP
Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck
Minister for Youth and Sport Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck
Minister for Home Affairs The Hon Peter Dutton MP
Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs The Hon David Coleman MP
Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs Mr Jason Wood MP
Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts The Hon Paul Fletcher MP
Minister for Education The Hon Dan Tehan MP
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Assistant Minister for Vocational Education, Training and Apprenticeships The Hon Steve Irons MP
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology The Hon Karen Andrews MP
Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Senator the Hon Matthew Canavan
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction The Hon Angus Taylor MP
Minister for the Environment The Hon Sussan Ley MP
Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management Mr Trevor Evans MP
Minister for Defence Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC
Assistant Defence Minister The Hon Alex Hawke MP
Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel (Deputy Leader of the House) The Hon Darren Chester MP
Minister for Defence Industry The Hon Melissa Price MP
Minister for Families and Social Services (Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Senator the Hon Anne Ruston
Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme The Hon Stuart Robert MP
Minister for Government Services The Hon Stuart Robert MP
Assistant Minister for Children and Families The Hon Michelle Landry MP
Assistant Minister for Community Housing, Homelessness and Community Services Mr Luke Howarth MP

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