Santoro Resigns From Ministry Over Share Dealings

Mar 16, 2007

Senator Santo Santoro, the Minister for Ageing, has resigned from the Howard ministry after a week of allegations and revelations over an undeclared share ownership.

Senator Santo Santoro, former Minister for AgeingHe is the second minister to resign in the past fortnight.

It was revealed earlier this week that Senator Santoro had failed to sell off shares in a biotechnology company, CBio, after he was appointed to the Ageing portfolio last year. This constituted a perceived conflict of interest with his health-related position.

Santoro sold the shares sometime last year and advised the Prime Minister, John Howard. He went public with details of the shareholdings at the beginning of this week to head off media disclosure. Santoro claimed he donated the profits from the shares to a charity but it was revealed yesterday that the money was given to the conservative lobby group, Family Council of Queensland, However, the organisation is not a charity. Moreover, its president, Alan Baxter, is the person who originally advised Senator Santoro to purchase the shares.

At a press conference today, Santoro described his behaviour this week as “further oversights”. However, it now appears that he has traded shares in around 50 companies during his time as a minister. He said he had now made additions to his parliamentary statement of interests.

A former Queensland state minister, Santoro lost his seat in the 2001 Queensland election but was appointed to the Senate to replace John Herron in 2002. He is regarded as an important factional powerbroker in the Queensland Liberal Party.

Santoro’s resignation follows Senator Ian Campbell’s resignation on March 3. Three other Queensland Liberal MPs (Andrew Laming, Gary Hardgrave and Ross Vasta) are currently under police investigation over alleged rorting of their electorate allowances. A week ago, an ALP shadow minister, Kelvin Thomson, resigned over revelations he wrote a reference for crime figure Tony Mokbel. This week, Prime Minister Howard came under attack over attending a function in 2004 which was also graced by a pornographer who is now in prison.

This is the text of a media release from the Prime Minister, John Howard.

Earlier today I accepted the resignation of Santo Santoro as Minister for Ageing.

After a detailed review of his financial records, required by me, he provided advice indicating a number of investments not hitherto disclosed to the Senate or to me.

He has written to the Registrar of Senators’ Interests today providing the relevant information.

While commonsense needs to be applied to issues of ministerial conduct including the capacity to accept inadvertent error, circumstances such as those now outlined by him are unacceptable.

Senator Santoro clearly has failed to comply with the rules of the Senate and has not made the disclosures to me required of him as a Minister.

He had no option but to resign.

Filed Under: Cabinet-Ministry, Howard Government Tagged With: ,

Howard Reshuffle: Ellison Promoted, New Minister From WA

Mar 06, 2007

Senator Chris Ellison has been promoted to Cabinet to replace Senator Ian Campbell as Minister for Human Services.

Senator David Johnston, Minister for Justice and CustomsAnnouncing the ministerial changes today, the Prime Minister, John Howard, also brought Western Australian Senator David Johnston (pictured) into the Ministry to take Senator Ellison’s previous portfolio of Justice and Customs.

The ministerial arrangements preserve the balance of representation between the House and Senate and between the States.

The changes follow the weekend resignation of Senator Ian Campbell, following revelation of a 20-minute meeting he had last year with Brian Burke.

  • Listen to Howard’s Press Conference Following the Announcement of the Ministerial Changes.

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This is the text of a media release by the Prime Minister, John Howard.

Ministerial Arrangements

Following the resignation of Senator the Honourable Ian Campbell as Minister for Human Services, His Excellency the Governor-General has agreed to my announcing the following changes to the Ministry.

Senator the Honourable Chris Ellison will be appointed Minister for Human Services and become a member of the Cabinet. Senator Ellison has had extensive experience in a number of portfolios, most recently as a highly successful Minister for Justice and Customs.

Senator David Johnston will be appointed Minister for Justice and Customs. Since his entry to Parliament Senator Johnston has made a strong contribution in the Senate where he has been an active and effective representative of the people of Western Australia.

Senator the Honourable Eric Abetz, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation will be appointed Manager of Government Business in the Senate.

The Honourable Joe Hockey MP will replace Senator Campbell as a member of the Expenditure Review Committee.

I want to thank Senator Campbell for his work as Minister for Human Services and prior to that as Minister for the Environment and Heritage and as Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads.

The swearing in of new Ministers will take place on Friday, 9 March 2007.

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Campbell Quits Howard Ministry Over Burke Connections

Mar 03, 2007

The Brian Burke controversy has claimed the job of a Howard Government minister.

Senator Ian Campbell (Liberal, WA), former Minister for Human Services The Minister for Human Services, Senator Ian Campbell, a Liberal from Western Australia, resigned today following revelations in morning newspapers that he met with the former Western Australian Premier in June last year.

According to The Australian, Campbell met with Burke on June 8 last year “to discuss an indigenous cultural centre planned as part of a massive redevelopment of race courses on the Swan River”. According to the paper, “Senator Campbell’s office was approached by Julian Grill, Mr Burke’s business partner, to arrange a meeting. Mr Burke and Mr Grill were being paid by Perth Racing, the old West Australian Turf Club, to assist with a proposal for a multi-million-dollar urban development. The cultural centre proposal was thought to be a sweetener to help win approval for the wider development project. Mr Grill pulled out of the meeting with Senator Campbell the night before.” [Read more...]

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Howard Announces New Ministry; Nelson To Defence; Nationals Lose Out; Turnbull Tapped

Jan 24, 2006

The Prime Minister, John Howard, has announced changes to his ministry, moving Brendan Nelson from Education to Defence and promoting the Minister for Ageing, Julie Bishop, into Cabinet as Education Minister. The PM has also promoted Mal Brough from Assistant Treasurer into Cabinet to replace Kay Patterson as Minister for a revamped Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs portfolio.

The National Party’s De-Anne Kelly has been dropped from the Ministry and becomes a Parliamentary Secretary, as a result of yesterday’s defection of Nationals Senator Julian McGauran to the Liberal Party. In a move that will cause further angst for the junior coalition partner, the Nationals lose a place in the ministry but gain an additional Parliamentary Secretary’s position. Nationals leader and Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile remains Minister for Trade.

Other major positions in the government remain unchanged, with Peter Costello (Treasurer), Alexander Downer (Foreign Affairs), Tony Abbott (Health), Nick Minchin (Finance), Philip Ruddock (Attorney-General) and Kevin Andrews (Workplace Relations) all unchanged.

Senator Amanda Vanstone has had her wings clipped. She retains Immigration but loses Indigenous Affairs which goes to Mal Brough’s expanded Families portfolio.

Howard favourites have done well out of the reshuffle. Queenslander Peter Dutton is promoted from Workforce Participation to become Assistant Treasurer, whilst another Queenslander, Senator Santo Santoro, becomes Minister for Ageing. Victorian Sharman Stone moves into the Ministry, taking over Dutton’s portfolio of Workforce Participation.

In a sign of Howard continuing to toy with Peter Costello, Malcolm Turnbull becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, with particular responsibility for Water. Victorian Andrew Robb, as expected, becomes a Parliamentary Secretary, taking up the position of Immigration & Multicultural Affairs.

In shifting Nelson to Defence, Howard has facilitated broader experience for a potential rival to Costello. By taking Turnbull under his wing, the Prime Minister will be able to mould another Costello rival. Significantly, Costello supporters Tony Smith, Christopher Pyne and Senator George Brandis have not been promoted.

Major appointments:

  • Leader of the Government in the Senate: Nick Minchin
  • Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate: Helen Coonan
  • Defence: Brendan Nelson

New members of Cabinet:

  • Families, Community Services & Indigenous Affairs: Mal Brough
  • Education & Training: Julie Bishop

New members of the Ministry:

  • Veterans Affairs: Bruce Billson
  • Special Minister of State: Gary Nairn
  • Ageing: Senator Santo Santoro
  • Workforce Participation: Sharman Stone

New Parliamentary Secretaries:

  • Bob Baldwin: Industry, Tourism & Resources
  • Andrew Robb: Immigration & Multicultural Affairs
  • Malcolm Turnbull: PM, with partcular responsibility for Water
  • Sussan Ley: Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry

Departing Ministers:

  • Defence: Senator Robert Hill
  • Fisheries, Forests & Conservation: Senator Ian McDonald
  • Family & Community Services: Senator Kay Patterson
  • Warren Entsch: Parliamentary Secretary
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Details of Howard Government’s Ministerial Changes

Jan 24, 2006

Changes to the Howard Government’s ministerial arrangements were announced today. They follow the departures over the past week of Senators Hill, Patterson and McDonald.

The changes were announced by the Prime Minister, John Howard, at a press conference in Canberra this afternoon.

The changes see the National Party lose one ministerial position as a result of yesterday’s defection of Senator Julian McGauran to the Liberal Party.

Major ministerial positions are unchanged, with the exception of Brendan Nelson’s shift to Defence. His current Education portfolio will be taken by Julie Bishop.

  • Listen to Howard’s Press Conference.

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This is the text of a media statement from the Prime Minister, John Howard.

MINISTERIAL CHANGES

Earlier today I called on His Excellency the Governor-General and secured his approval to announce the following changes to the Ministry and the Administrative Arrangements Order. The changes to the Ministerial line-up reflect the depth of talent available to the Coalition and leave the Government well placed to pursue its fourth term agenda.

The changes include two promotions into Cabinet, four new appointments to the outer Ministry and four new parliamentary secretary appointments.

I reiterate my appreciation to Senators Hill, Patterson and Macdonald for their contributions to the Government. As a result of Senator Hill’s resignation I have decided to appoint Senator the Hon Nick Minchin Leader of the Government in the Senate. The new Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate will be Senator the Hon Helen Coonan.

The Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination will be moved to the Family and Community Services (FACS) portfolio because of the potential synergies with other FACS programmes. The portfolio will be renamed Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and the current portfolio of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs will be renamed Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.

The Hon Mal Brough MP will become Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. He will also become Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Indigenous Affairs.

The Hon John Cobb MP will become Minister for Community Services in this newly expanded portfolio.

The Hon Dr Brendan Nelson MP will become Minister for Defence. His previous portfolio, Education Science and Training will be taken by the Hon Julie Bishop MP, who will also become Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Women’s Issues. Senator Santo Santoro becomes the new Minister for Ageing.

The Hon Bruce Billson MP will become Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence. I thank the Hon De-Anne Kelly MP for her work in this portfolio over the past year. Mrs Kelly will be appointed Parliamentary Secretary (Trade).

The Hon Peter Dutton MP becomes the Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer. He will be replaced as Minister for Workforce Participation by the Hon Dr Sharman Stone MP.

Senator the Hon Eric Abetz will become Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation. The Hon Gary Nairn MP will become Special Minister of State.

Mr Malcolm Turnbull MP will become Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister with particular responsibility for water policy.

Mr Andrew Robb MP will become Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.

Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck will become Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration.

The Hon Sussan Ley MP will become Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

The Hon Teresa Gambaro MP will become Parliamentary Secretary (Foreign Affairs).

Senator the Hon Sandy Macdonald will become Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence.

In the light of the possibility of his retirement at the next election, the Hon Warren Entsch MP has asked that he stand down as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources. I wish to thank Mr Entsch for his contribution in that position over recent years. He will be replaced by Mr Bob Baldwin MP.

The swearing-in ceremony will be on 27 January 2006.

Filed Under: Audio, Cabinet-Ministry, Howard Government Tagged With: , , ,

John Howard’s Senate Abuses – The Story Since July 1st

Dec 16, 2005

The Federal Opposition has itemised what is calls abuse of process, procedure and convention in the Senate since July 1, the date on which the coalition government assumed a one-seat majority in the upper house.

The ALP leader in the Senate, Chris Evans, has itemised a list of government actions concerning Question Time, censure motions, guillotines, gags and Senate Committees.

The Opposition argues these actions constitute “democratic abuses”.

This is the text of a media statement Senator Chris Evans, the ALP leader in the Senate.

John Howard’s Senate Abuses – Process, Procedure and Convention – the Story Since 1 July

Since gaining senate control, the Howard Government has rolled out what has become a very long list of democratic abuses. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cabinet-Ministry, Howard Government, Parliamentary Procedures, Parliamentary Reform, Prime Minister, Senate Tagged With: , , , ,

Howard To Announce Ministerial Reshuffle on Sunday; Labor Caucus To Meet Next Week

Oct 13, 1998

John HowardPrime Minister John Howard will announce his second term ministry on Sunday.

Yesterday, the Australian Electoral Commission advised the government that it could now declare that at least 75 seats have been won by the government and Howard accordingly declared the caretaker period of government over.

Coalition members will meet in Canberra this week ahead of Howard’s weekend announcement. The ALP Caucus will meet next week to elect its shadow ministry.

There is at least one vacancy in the ministry, given the retirement of the Defence Minister, Ian McLachlan. Some newspaper reports suggest that Peter Reith may be moved to this portfolio, whilst others predict a promotion for Senator Nick Minchin.

Portfolios to watch include Resources, currently held by Senator Warwick Parer. Parer has been under sustained attack from the Opposition over alleged conflict of interest situations. He was staunchly defended by Howard, but may be moved now that the election is out of the way.

It is generally agreed that ministers such as Judi Moylan and David Kemp have either been under-performing or presiding over embarrassing policies and may therefore be moved. As usual, Bronwyn Bishop’s name is always mentioned as one who is under threat, although there is no evidence that she has made a botch of her Defence Personnel and Science position. Amanda Vanstone might be a better bet as a possible casualty.

Reports last week in The Bulletin suggested that Howard may create a new Ministry of Revenue that would hive off from the Treasury responsibility for taxation and the GST. This was interpreted as an attempt by Howard to isolate Costello and protect Howard from a leadership challenge from his deputy by promoting rivals such as Peter Reith. This proposal is now not seen as likely. As with most things with John Howard, minimal change is now being touted as most likely.

How The Parties Choose Their Ministries

In theory, Howard has complete freedom to choose his new ministry. The Liberal Party allows its leaders this luxury, whereas the ALP members of parliament, otherwise known as the “caucus”, meets to elect a list of ministers or shadow ministers whose portfolios are allocated by the party leader.

In practice, Howard has to consider a number of factors. With McLachlan gone, there will be pressure from South Australia for a replacement from that state. Similarly, if Warwick Smith fails to win Bass, Howard will be under pressure to find another minister from Tasmania. Since the Liberals would then hold no seats in Tasmania, he would have to find a senator.

The gender balance is also a factor of increasing importance to both sides when constructing ministries. Expect Cheryl Kernot to be given a shadow ministry (predicted to be Education, now that Mark Latham has spat the dummy and stood aside) if she wins Dickson.

There is also the practical reality of the Senate to be considered and each side needs at least 5 positions to be filled from the upper house.

In the ALP, factional considerations are paramount. The shadow ministry will reflect the factional breakdown of the caucus with mathematical precision. Howard, too, cannot afford to alienate his moderate wing by locking them out. It is for this reason that Brendan Nelson’s name has been mentioned as a possible replacement for the moderate Warwick Smith.

Filed Under: Cabinet-Ministry, Howard Government Tagged With: , , , , ,