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Tony Abbott is poised to unveil a cabinet reshuffle on Sunday afternoon following the resignation of Arthur Sinodinos as assistant treasurer.
Tony Abbott has promoted Peter Dutton to immigration and moved Scott Morrison into social services in a much bigger ministerial reshuffle than expected.
Mathias Cormann, the finance minister and senior frontbencher, said any ministerial reshuffle would ensure the Abbott government took the best team into the new year and the next federal election.
Abbott announced his new-look team in Canberra on Sunday, saying it would “reset and refocus the government for the coming year”.
Josh Frydenberg, parliamentary secretary to the prime minister, is tipped to take on Sinodinos’s former job.
“This is a ministry for jobs and families and it is a sign that this is a government which wants the economy and the budget to be front and centre in the coming year,” he said.
There is speculation the defence minister, David Johnston, may lose his post in a broader shake-up, while the childcare minister, Sussan Ley, could be elevated to cabinet.
Dutton will move from health to immigration in what Abbott dubbed a “significant reshuffle”, while Morrison gets social services.
Cormann has been acting both as finance minister and assistant treasurer since Sinodinos stood down in March ahead of an appearance at the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac).
In a shock promotion the former social services minster Kevin Andrews has been appointed to defence at the expense of David Johnston, who has been dumped.
The reshuffle was entirely a matter for the prime minister, Cormann said on Sunday.
Sussan Ley will take on health, becoming the second woman in the Abbott cabinet.
“Obviously in the lead-up to the next election or over the next year it will be important to have the best possible team on the ground,” he told Sky News.
Josh Frydenberg will become assistant treasurer, replacing Arthur Sinodinos, whose resignation from the role sparked the reshuffle.
“I’m sure the prime minister will make the necessary decisions to ensure we have the best possible team in 2015 and beyond.”
Abbott said the education portfolio would now become education and training, with former parliamentary secretary Simon Birmingham named as an assistant minister to Christopher Pyne.
Sinodinos said on Friday : “I stood aside from my role as assistant treasurer prior to giving evidence so that there was no unnecessary distraction to the important work of the government which I am proud to serve. While I am extremely disappointed by this further delay, I am confident that when the reports are finally released, I will not be subject to any finding of corrupt conduct or illegality.
Kelly O’Dwyer also entered the outer ministry, becoming a parliamentary secretary to the treasurer.
“The government needs a full-time assistant treasurer for the preparation of next year’s budget. On that point the prime minister and I agree. The prime minister has advised me that I cannot resume ministerial duties until the Icac matters are completed and reported upon.”
“This is a good team. It is a strong team. It is a balanced team,” Abbott said.
Johnston, the defence minister, has been the subject of serious internal leaks in recent weeks, including that he and a senior staffer had spent $6,300 on food and drink with foreign officials and industry representatives, even as defence personnel learned they would be suffering a sub-inflation pay rise of 1.5% for the next three years. But Johnston is also close to fellow West Australian Julie Bishop, who has recently challenged decisions of the powerful prime minister’s office.
“I am proud of all my colleagues but I am particularly proud to be able to make these announcements this afternoon.”
