Since taking over as Prime Minister in September, Malcolm Turnbull has had a bit of a rough trot, cabinet-wise.
Having lost five ministers already, the PM has opted for another reshuffle, one that he says puts a “dynamic team” on the front bench before the upcoming federal election.
Three new faces have been promoted, including an additional woman — bringing the total number of female ministers to six.
Look, it’s a vast improvement on Abbott’s one-to-two, but it’s not parity.
We’re still seeing a lot of white men in suits, to be honest.
Turnbull said his new line up combined “youth, new talent, experience, continuity and a real sense of enterprise”.
Watch the announcement here (via ABC News):
New leader of the Nationals Barnaby Joyce has been sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister, while his deputy, Fiona Nash, has been given the Regional Development, Regional Communications and Rural Health portfolio.
She joins Liberals Julie Bishop, Sussan Ley, Marise Payne, Kelly O’Dwyer and Michaelia Cash.
The total number of women in the executive is now 10, with the elevation of Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells to International Development and the Pacific Minister and Jane Prentice to Assistant Minister for Disability Services.
Baby steps, I guess.
Top Comments
"We’re still seeing a lot of white men in suits, to be honest."
Perhaps you should name the "white men" who don't deserve to be there and the women who do. It's very easy to just look at the raw numbers but that hardly tells the whole story.
What is the proportion of men:women in the Coalition? Does the ministry fairly represent this proportion? What is the proportion of male:female candidates in individual seats around the country? Does the make-up of the Coalition Government fairly represent those numbers?
I guess the question is, should women be promoted solely based on gender to reach a 50:50 quota, or should they be promoted on merit?
And, while we're at it, what do you propose MPs should wear in parliament?
Malcolm made a deal with the Devils to become a Prime Minister like Julia did and now he has to to try and keep the people who put him there happy while trying to be the a prime Minister we hoped for.
iT will not end well- Australia want the Malcolm they turfed for Tony but what we get is this rather fake shadow who tries to please everyone and in doing so does nothing.
We need a leader that can monitate his party and get Austalia behind him when doing at times unpopular things like tax reform.
jOhnHowad could at least get legislation though parliament where as now we just seem stagnant and pandering to opinion polls not good policy.
tAke a look at New Zealand is my advice- they seem to be getting stuff done.
Howard was able to negotiate in the Senate with minor parties like the Australian Democrats and then eventually had the majority in later elections. Being able to negotiate isn't a strong suit of the Abbott/Turnbull Government.
And New Zealand don't have an Upper House, so it's hard to compare.
Howard didn't have to deal with Jackie Lambie.