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Liberal leader Sussan Ley has refuted claims of retribution against colleagues while selecting her new shadow ministry, unveiled shortly after the Coalition reaffirmed their long-standing alliance.
Ley explained that her choices were a mix of seasoned experience and fresh talent, having consulted all 54 members of her party before finalizing the appointments.
The Nationals secured six positions, one less than what leader David Littleproud had advocated for, with Littleproud continuing as the agriculture spokesperson.
The Liberals, despite losing 13 lower house seats, continue to hold the major portfolios as the majority party.
Ted O’Brien, the mastermind behind the Coalition’s nuclear election strategy, has been elevated to treasury spokesperson.
He takes over from Angus Taylor, who had contested Ley for the Liberal leadership and is now appointed as the defence spokesperson.
Michaelia Cash has been elevated to foreign ministry spokesperson, James Paterson is the finance spokesperson and Andrew Hastie will take on home affairs.
Julian Leeser retakes his old role as shadow attorney-general after he resigned from the shadow cabinet to campaign for the Indigenous Voice referendum in 2023.
Dan Tehan takes on energy and emissions reduction, with Ley downplaying the removal of climate change from the portfolio title.
“I look at the substance of what’s going on and the policy areas and don’t get hung up on the titles,” she said.
Nationals deputy Kevin Hogan retains trade and Senate leader Bridget McKenzie keeps infrastructure.
Who has been demoted?
Ley denied Hume and other conservatives, such as Sarah Henderson, had been punished for supporting Angus Taylor during the Liberal leadership spill.
“Absolutely not. I won’t compare the attributes of one individual to those of another. I believe that’s an unfair question,” commented Ley.
She will become the Opposition’s defence industry and personnel spokesperson.
Littleproud denied similar claims of vengeance after both former national leader Michael McCormack and Barnaby Joyce questioned his leadership in recent days and were not offered positions.
“I made it clear when I became leader three years ago that I wanted to have generational change but, at that point, wanted to respect the leadership that was before me to allow them to impart their wisdom,” Littleproud said.
Queensland senator Matt Canavan is also absent from the shadow ministry, allowing him to break cabinet solidarity on issues such as net zero.
Ley denies ‘bitter break up’ amid new Coalition agreement
Ley denied the Coalition’s temporary split had been “bitter”, maintaining that she gets along well with Littleproud and looks forward to moving “forward together”.
“Personally, David and I will be friends,” she said.
“I think a woman who got her start in the shearing sheds of western Queensland can always find something to talk about over a steak and a beer, David, with you, the person who represents those communities now.”
Last Tuesday, Nationals leader David Littleproud declared his party’s decision to exit the Coalition, aiming to incorporate four policy matters into their agreement.
This included lifting a moratorium on nuclear, powers to split up the major supermarkets, a $20 billion regional fund and mobile coverage in the bush.
The Liberals wanted time to review their election policy agenda after a historic loss but offered to support the demands “in principle” by the end of the week.
After days of conjecture over the terms of the split, the Nationals party room met on Wednesday morning to sign off on the agreement.
Littleproud noted negotiations over the week with Ley had been effective, despite “gossip and innuendo through the halls of the gallery”, seemingly a shot at the Canberra reporters.
“Sussan and I have always kept the lines of communication open. We’ve risen above that. We haven’t let us get distracted by what’s been reported.”
With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press.
