Scott Morrison DUMPS Linda Reynolds and Christian Porter as he promotes MORE women after popularity slump over his handling of sex scandals
- Scott Morrison has unveiled his new cabinet, with more women in key roles
- Senator Michaelia Cash is the new attorney-general, replacing Christian Porter
- Linda Reynolds has been moved from Defence, to Government Services
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has revealed his new cabinet after being forced to make changes with two ministers on medical leave after being plagued by scandal.
Attorney-general Christian Porter and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds have both been stripped of their current portfolios but will remain in cabinet.
Mr Morrison announced more female representation in cabinet after the government became engulfed in scandals stemming from the treatment of women.
Michaelia Cash has been promoted to attorney-general and industrial relations minister to replace Mr Porter, who lost his job as the nation’s first law officer.
Karen Andrews will replace Peter Dutton, who is also taking Mr Porter’s role as leader of the house, as home affairs minister.
Anne Rushton is the minister for the newly created portfolio of Women’s Safety, in addition to her current role as Social Services Minister.
‘Previous governments had a minister for women, who was expected to cover all issues that affect women… I don’t think that is a constructive way to get outcomes for women,’ Mr Morrison said.
‘The whole government needs that. What I have done here is not have one, but many.’
Mr Morrison said under the changes unveiled on Monday he now has ‘very capable women operating in very important portfolios’.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured) has unveiled his new cabinet, forced on by Christian Porter and Linda Reynolds taking medical leave
Senator Michaelia Cash (pictured) has been promoted to attorney-general and industrial relations minister to replace Christian Porter
Mr Dutton will instead become the Minister for Defence, Senator Reynolds’s former portfolio.
Mr Porter took mental health leave after revealing he was the person accused in media reports of a historic rape in 1988, which he strongly denies.
His is now is the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology.
Senator Reynolds, who is also on medical leave, will become government services minister after coming under heavy fire for her handling of Brittany Higgins’ rape allegations in 2019.
The former defence minister was forced to apologise after it emerged she called Ms Higgins a ‘lying cow’.
Senator Reynolds replaces scandal-prone minister Stuart Robert, who will take over the workforce skills, employment and small business portfolios.
Senator Linda Reynolds (pictured) is no longer the Minister for Defence. Instead, she has been tasked with the role of government services minister
Christian Porter (pictured) is no longer the attorney-general. He is now the minister for Industry Science and Technology
‘These changes will shake up what needs to be shaken up while maintaining the momentum and the continuity and the stability that Australia needs,’ Mr Morrison said.
Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price has been returned to cabinet.
The prime minister also announced a new cabinet task force to focus on women’s equality, safety, economic security and health.
The new group will be led by Minister for Women Marise Payne and comprise all female ministers, along with the deputy prime minister, treasurer and finance minister.
In the outer ministry, Jane Hume will add women’s economic security minister to her other roles.
Queensland senator Amanda Stoker will become assistant minister for industrial relations and women.
The cabinet reshuffle comes as the latest Newspoll numbers confirm Mr Morrison’s approval ratings have taken a hit as he struggles to deal with sexual assault and harassment allegations in parliament.
Mr Morrison now has an approval rating of 55 per cent, although it’s nowhere near his lowest of 37 per cent during the 2019/20 bushfire crisis.