New PM Scott Morrison announces his new look ministry – with some very surprising decisions

Scott Morrison has unveiled his new-look cabinet after being sworn in as Australian Prime Minister.

Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce was not given a portfolio but has been appointed Special Envoy for Drought Assistance and Recovery while Tony Abbott was snubbed altogether and will remain on the backbench.

Mr Morrison named the rest of his frontbench on Sunday evening, making Dan Tehan the new Education Minister, Kelly O’Dwyer the new Minister for Jobs and giving Michaelia Cash a new portfolio as Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Technology. 

The nation’s new leader paid tribute to outgoing Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who resigned on Sunday after leaked WhatsApp messages revealed a betrayal during her unsuccessful challenge for the Liberal leadership. 

Mr Morrison’s rival for the party leadership Peter Dutton will continue to act as Home Affairs Minister but Mr Morrison said there will be ‘changes to the portfolio’s structure’. 

Scott Morrison  unveiled his new-look cabinet at a press conference on Sunday evening

 Josh Frydenberg (left) has secured a place in cabinet but Julie Bishop (right) has resigned

Marise Payne was named Foreign Affairs Minister after a strong recommendation from Ms Bishop.

Josh Frydenberg will act as Treasurer and Mathias Cormann will continue to be Finance Minister.

Simon Birmingham swaps the Education portfolio for Trade, Tourism and Investment while Angus Taylor becomes Minister for Energy.

Melissa Price will take over for Mr Frydenberg as the new Environment Minister.

Greg Hunt will continue as Health Minister while David Littleproud will be the Minister for Agriculture and Water.

Karen Andrews will be Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, and Alan Tudge will be Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population.

Tony Abbott looks set to remain in political wilderness on the back bench after being blamed for orchestrating the political coup against Malcolm Turnbull. 

Mr Morrison said he wants to reshape the cabinet on merit and is looking to build a ‘new generation of Liberal leadership’ with a focus on promoting talented women.  

‘I will be considering the formation of the ministry and the cabinet over the course of the weekend,’ he told The Daily Telegraph.

‘What the party voted for was that stable choice, moving to a new generation, and that means that we’ll have continuity, but there will be points of emphasis and direction that we’ll be consulting with our cabinet on.’

Peter Dutton (left) and Mathias Cormann will be given the opportunity to continue in their roles 

Ms Bishop quit as a minister after bombshell messages appeared to reveal the sabotage and betrayal behind her run for the top job.

Ms Bishop decided it was ‘in the interests of the nation’ that she resign from her position, Perth Now reported.

‘Today (Sunday) I advised the Prime Minister that I will be resigning from my Cabinet position as Minister for Foreign Affairs,’ Ms Bishop said in a statement.

‘I will remain on the backbench as a strong voice for Western Australia.

‘I have been pre-selected by the Liberal Party for the seat of Curtin and I have made no decision regarding the next election.’

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is expected to announce his new cabinet later today.

Shortly after Ms Bishop’s resignation, Malcolm Turnbull tweeted: ‘I thank Julie for her loyalty and friendship over many years but especially as my Deputy. She has been and remains an inspiring role model for women here and around the world.’

On Friday, Ms Bishop launched a failed run against Mr Morrison and Peter Dutton to become Australia’s next prime minister.

Leaked messages broadcast on ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday morning appear to expose the betrayal Ms Bishop faced during her run for the top job.

The thread titled ‘Friends for Stability’ allege Mathias Cormann was securing votes for Ms Bishop to keep Mr Morrison out of the race.

‘Cormann rumoured to be putting some WA votes behind Julie Bishop in round 1,’ a message believed to be have sent by Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher read.

Alan Tudge (left) and Angus Taylor (right) will assist the PM in rebuilding the Australian public’s confidence in the Liberal Party

‘Be aware that this is a ruse trying to get her ahead of Morrison so he drops out and his votes go to Dutton.

‘Despite our hearts tugging us to Julie we need to vote with our heads for Scott in Round one.’

‘Someone should tell Julie,’ someone wrote.

‘Agree,’ another responded.

‘I have. Very respectfully,’ Christopher Pyne allegedly wrote.

The newly-appointed PM received a congratulatory message of support from US President Donald Trump.

‘We enjoyed a very close and positive relationship with former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, and we are confident that close working relationship under Prime Minister Morrison will continue,’ a State Department official said.

Tony Abbott was not given a role in Mr Morrison's new cabinet and some ministers have even called for the former PM to quit politics altogether

Tony Abbott was not given a role in Mr Morrison’s new cabinet and some ministers have even called for the former PM to quit politics altogether

Mr Frydenberg, the member for Kooyong in Victoria, previously served as Energy Minister and had the task of overseeing the controversial National Energy Guarantee, which put Mr Turnbull on the outer with party colleagues.

Mr Frydenberg won the role of deputy leader of the liberal party, replacing Ms Bishop, after receiving an ‘absolute majority’ vote.   

Mr Morrison said Ms Bishop had been an ‘amazing contributor and driver of foreign policy and an advocate for Liberal values from one end of this country to the other and one end of this world to the other’.

A key focus for the newly-appointed PM will be to rebuild the Australian public’s lost confidence in the Liberal party ahead of the next Federal election. 

Other fresh faces Mr Morrison will be considering for promotion include David Coleman, Paul Fletcher, Sarah Henderson and Karen Andrews.   

Christopher Pyne (left), Michaelia Cash (centre), and Michael ­Sukkar (right) are among those candidates up for demotion 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk