Jacinta Nampijinpa Price is poised to make a significant return to the Liberal Party’s frontbench, as Angus Taylor, the newly appointed Opposition Leader, completes his revamped Shadow Cabinet lineup.
In a noteworthy move, Taylor has named Price as the Shadow Minister for Small Business, Skills, and Training. This appointment marks her comeback to the senior ranks of the Coalition, just a few months after her previous removal from Sussan Ley’s shadow ministry.
Meanwhile, Andrew Hastie, who was previously in the race for leadership, is also set to rejoin the frontbench. He will assume the role of Shadow Minister for Industry, along with the position of Deputy Leader in the House of Representatives.
Jane Hume, in her capacity as Deputy Leader, will take on the responsibilities of Shadow Minister for Employment, Industrial Relations, and Productivity, bringing her experience to these critical areas.
Tim Wilson, representing Goldstein and known for his moderate stance, will serve as Shadow Treasurer. Notably, Wilson was the only Liberal candidate to regain a seat from a Teal Independent during the 2025 election, having successfully contested against Zoe Daniel.
Accompanying Wilson, Hume, and Taylor, Tasmanian Senator Clare Chandler has been appointed as the Shadow Finance Minister, rounding out the new team’s financial leadership.
Chandler was the first MP to submit her resignation from Shadow Cabinet, following Taylor’s resignation last Wednesday evening.
Price’s comeback follows her September 2025 departure from the shadow ministry, when Ley asked her to step down after a dispute over comments Price made about Indian migrants and her refusal to publicly endorse Ley’s leadership.
Price (pictured) will return to the Liberal Party frontbench as part of Angus Taylor’s team
Tim Wilson (pictured) has been appointed as Shadow Treasurer under Angus Taylor
On 10 September 2025, Price told the ABC the Albanese government was accepting ‘large numbers’ of Indian migrants to bolster Labor’s vote share, an assertion she later conceded was a ‘mistake’.
Ley considered the remarks ‘deeply hurtful’ to Indian Australians and said maintaining confidence in the leader was a fundamental requirement for serving in the shadow ministry.
At the time, Ley declared that Price had ‘failed the test’ expected of shadow ministers. Price later described her comments as ‘clumsy,’ though she stopped short of issuing an explicit apology.
Sussan Ley’s former deputy Ted O’Brien will shift into the role of Shadow Foreign Minister, supported by Senator Dave Sharma, who will serve as Shadow Minister for International Development.
Liberal Senate leader Michaelia Cash will shift to Shadow Attorney-General.
Some moderate MPs who backed Ley have also held their positions on the frontbench.
Senator Ann Ruston will continue as Shadow Health Minister and Deputy Leader in the Senate.
Berowra MP Julian Leeser will remain Shadow Education Minister, while Andrew Bragg will retain his housing portfolio and take on the additional role of Shadow Environment Minister.
Key Angus Taylor supporter Claire Chandler (pictured) will serve as Shadow Finance Minister
Ley backers such as Anne Ruston (front) and Andrew Bragg (back) remain in Shadow Cabinet
Dan Tehan will replace Alex Hawke as Manager of Opposition Business in the House of Representatives.
Hawke, one of Ley’s biggest supports, has been dropped entirely.
Maria Kovacic, another Ley ally will remain, serving as Shadow Assistant Minister for Women and Shadow Minister for Productivity and Deregulation.
Senator James Paterson, a key figure in Taylor’s victory over Ley, will serve as Shadow Minister for Defence.
The National Party will also return to the Shadow Cabinet, following the Coalition split earlier this year.
Just days after Taylor ousted Ley as Liberal leader, Price used a fiery appearance on The Karl Stefanovic Show to signal her political comeback.
‘I’m back, baby. I’m back. Don’t worry about that. I’m back,’ she said.
‘I was having a breather, but I’m back.’
Price also targeted colleagues she accused of abandoning her during last year’s controversy, specifically Hawke, who had publicly urged her to apologise.
‘I think it was fairly evident that Mr Hawke there had a good old crack,’ she said.
‘I had a very stern conversation with him.’
