Friday 26 / April / 2024
Canberra: Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed his new-look cabinet on Sunday, including a record seven women and the first indigenous minister in the nation's history.
Morrison stated that the cabinet would focus on "service delivery."
"It's also about driving the better use of information technology that can assist Australians getting access to services they need," he told reporters in Canberra.
Ken Wyatt, a Member of Parliament (MP) from Western Australia, will serve as the Minister for Indigenous Australians.
"Incredibly honoured to be the first Aboriginal Minister for Indigenous Australians, committed to working and walking together with our Elders, families and communities to ensure the greatness of our many nations is reflected in the greatness of our Australian nation, now and forever," Wyatt said in a statement.
Linda Reynolds was appointed Minister for Defence just five years after entering parliament as a senator while Marise Payne will remain Minister for Foreign Affairs and was also named Minister for Women.
Stuart Robert will be Morrison's Minister for Government Services, Paul Fletcher his Minister for Communications, Sussan Ley the new Minister for Environment, while Alex Hawke was made Minister of International Development and the Pacific.
Ley replaced Melissa Price, who was given the defence industry portfolio. Meanwhile, Anne Ruston will serve as Minister for Family and Social Services.
Bridget Mackenzie was also named the country's first female agriculture minister. Michaelia Cash, on the other hand, was made Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business.
Peter Dutton kept the Home Affairs portfolio while David Coleman remains Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs.
Josh Frydenberg will continue as Treasurer and will be supported by Mathias Cormann as Minister for Finance.
The finance team will be under immediate pressure to deliver Morrison's promised tax cuts before the new financial year starts on 1 July 2019.
"We put our entire tax plan to the parliament, we just put it to the people of Australia. It is a plan for aspirational Australians, a plan for tax relief not just now, but into the future," Morrison said.
"This is an important program of tax relief, out over the medium term, and it was put to the Australian people as a package, so it will be put to the Australian Parliament as a package."
Christian Porter will once again serve as Australia's Attorney-General and will add industrial relations to his responsibilities.
"That will include creating fairer workplaces and enforcing the rule of law in industrial relations, particularly through the Australian Building and Construction Commission," Morrison said.
