First Turnbull Ministry Announced; More Women Into Cabinet, Abbott Supporters Axed

Sep 20, 2015

Malcolm Turnbull has announced the composition of his ministry, five days after being sworn in as prime minister.

As expected, Joe Hockey has been replaced as Treasurer by Scott Morrison. Hockey is expected to be appointed Ambassador to the United States, replacing former Labor leader Kim Beazley in the new year.

Five women will be in the Cabinet, an increase of three. Senator Maris Payne becomes Defence Minister, whilst Senator Michaelia Cash will be the Minister for Women. They will be joined by Kelly O’Dwyer as Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Small Business.

Turnbull has sacked a number of Abbott supporters. The most prominent casualties are Defence Minister Kevin Andrews and the Senate leader and Workplace Relations Minister Eric Abetz.

Small Business Minister Bruce Billson has been left out of the ministry, as has Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane. The Special Minister of State, Senator Michael Ronaldson, has also been dropped.

This is the official list of ministers released by the Prime Minister’s office:


Filed Under: Liberal Party, Ministries, Turnbull Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

McClure Social Welfare Reform Report Calls For Simplified Payments System

Jun 29, 2014

The Minister for Social Services, Kevin Andrews, has released a review of the social welfare system which calls for simplified system of four basic payment types.

The report, by Patrick McClure, calls for: a tiered Working Age Payment; a Disability Support Pension; an Age Pension; and a Child Payment.

Statement from the Minister for Social Services, Kevin Andrews.

Interim Report Proposes a Simplified Welfare System

Minister for Social Services Kevin Andrews says an interim review of Australia’s welfare system has put forward a simplified payments structure with four basic payment types, among other potential reforms. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Abbott, Social Welfare, Video Tagged With: , , ,

Kevin Andrews: The Days Of Easy Welfare For Young Australians Are Over

May 10, 2014

Declaring that “the days of easy welfare for younger Australians are over”, the Minister for Social Services, Kevin Andrews, has announced that the Abbott government will promote a system of “earn or learn” for people under 30 and put in place a review of the Disability Support Pension.

AndrewsSpeaking at a press conference in Melbourne, Andrews said new recipients of the Disability Support Pension (DSP) over the past 5 or 6 years would be expected to seek work if they were judged sufficiently able.

Andrews said: “The message is this: we expect people who are capable of working to do so.”

Around 800,000 people receive the DSP. Andrews said statistics indicated there was no point in reassessing most recipients after they have been on the payment for six years.

Andrews said the government would promote a system of “earn or learn” for people under the age of 30. Young people would be expected to participate in training programs or have a job search program. “We’re no longer going to support easy welfare for people who want to sit around on the couch at home,” Andrews said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Abbott, Audio, Budget, Social Welfare, Video Tagged With: , ,

Kevin Andrews: Civil Society, Social Welfare And The Economy

Apr 30, 2014

The Minister for Social Services, Kevin Andrews, has set out a philosophical framework for the Abbott government’s policies on social welfare and the economy.

Andrews delivered the speech to an Aon Breakfast Forum. Aon is one of the world’s largest insurance brokers.

Transcript of speech by Kevin Andrews, Minister for Social Services, to the Aon Breakfast Forum.

AndrewsI’ll begin by expressing my gratitude to Aon Australia, Deloitte Consulting and Macquarie for organising this event under the auspices of your Not-for-Profit Forum.

Thanks to Bill Marynissen of Macquarie for MC’ing this morning’s event.

And a thank you also to the NFP Forum members.

Your dedication to Australia’s not-for-profit sector is both noteworthy and praiseworthy. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Abbott, Budget, Liberal Party, Social Welfare Tagged With: , ,
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