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The Second Turnbull Ministry Reshuffled – Statistical Analysis

This page provides statistical data on the revised Second Turnbull Ministry, as announced on December 19, 2017.

The 42-member executive includes 23 Cabinet ministers (up from 22), 7 members of the Outer Ministry (down from 8) and 12 Assistant Ministers/Parliamentary Secretaries.

There are five new Cabinet members, three of whom – Sen. Bridget McKenzie, John McVeigh and David Littleproud – have moved directly from the backbench. Two members of the outer ministry – Michael Keenan and Dan Tehan – have moved into Cabinet.

One Cabinet minister, Darren Chester, and one assistant minister, Keith Pitt, have been dumped to the backbench.

Other features of the reshuffle:

  • The Attorney-General, Senator George Brandis, has been appointed High Commissioner to the UK. Brandis will resign from the Senate in the new year. Christian Porter becomes Attorney-General, a post he previously held in the Western Australian state government. Senator Mathias Cormann becomes Leader of the Government in the Senate.
  • The National Party’s deputy leader, Senator Fiona Nash, resigned due to dual citizenship. Her replacement as deputy leader, Senator Bridget McKenzie, moves from the backbench into Cabinet, displacing fellow Victorian Darren Chester.
  • Following the resignation of Senator Stephen Parry, due to dual citizenship, his position as President of the Senate was taken by Senator Scott Ryan. Ryan’s duties as Special Minister of State will be taken on by Senator Cormann.
  • Senator Arthur Sinodinos removed himself from consideration for the ministry, due to his cancer treatment. He has indicated he will be able to resume duties in mid-2018.
  • Craig Laundy has been promoted from Assistant Minister to the Outer Ministry.
  • There are three new assistant ministers: David Coleman, Damian Drum and Melissa Price. Drum served as a minister in the Victorian Napthine government in 2014.
  • Peter Dutton has become Minister for Home Affairs, the enlarged portfolio dealing with immigration, security, border control and law enforcement. Dutton will oversee the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).
  • Sen. Michaelia Cash takes on the enlarged portfolio of Jobs and Innovation. Industrial Relations moves from the cabinet level to Craig Laundy’s outer ministry.

The first table shows the ministry by party, age, sex, state and parliamentary chamber.

The second table lists each member of the executive and gives their birthdays, ages, electorates, states, date when first elected to parliament, and portfolio. The lists are ordered by age. [Read more…]


Turnbull And Morrison Reiterate That No Census Data Has Been Accessed Or Lost

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Treasurer Scott Morrison have emphasised that no data was accessed or lost during last night’s crisis for the 2016 Census.

Turnbull

Speaking at a press conference in Sydney, Turnbull said the census site will be back online as soon as the Australian Signals Directorate is satisfied. [Read more…]


Paul Fletcher (Lib-Bradfield) – Maiden Speech

This is Paul Fletcher’s maiden speech to the House of Representatives as the Liberal member for Bradfield.

Flectcher won Bradfield in a by-election on December 5, 2009. He replaced Brendan Nelson, the former Liberal leader who had represented the seat since 1996.

Bradfield is an inner metropolitcan electorate in North Sydney. It includes Killara, Pymble, Roseville, St Ives, Wahroonga and extends to parts of Hornsby and Normanhurst.

Fletcher, 45, has worked as a solicitor and in a variety of corporate positions. He was Director of Corporate and Regulator Affairs with Optus between 2000-07. He was an adviser and Chief of Staff to Howard government minister Senator Richard Alston between 1996-2000. [Read more…]