Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s new ministers sworn in after frontbench reshuffle
A cloudless and bitterly cold Canberra morning heralded a bright new dawn for Anthony Albanese.
Or so the Prime Minister is hoping after a frontbench reshuffle designed to scrape off the barnacles that have become a drag on his first-term Labor Government.
Mr Albanese on Monday morning made the short drive from the Lodge to Government House to watch on as new Governor-General Sam Mostyn swore 15 of his Labor colleagues into new positions.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.New Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke was the first to accept his new commission – appropriate given the success, or failure, of the reshuffle will largely hinge on his performance in the pressure-charged role.
The NSW powerbroker also takes on immigration, putting Andrew Giles out of his misery after a disastrous nine months struggling to contain the immigration detention debacle.
The sight of a smiling Mr Giles happily accepting his new skills and training portfolio would be galling for those who wanted him exiled to the backbench.
But this reshuffle wasn’t about axings. It was about shifting, rewarding, promoting and protecting.
Clare O’Neil – the other minister who presided over the detainee saga – appeared equally delighted as she was sworn in as the new minister for housing.
Ms O’Neil’s combatants will no longer be people smugglers or cyber criminals but a millennial called Max Chandler-Mather, who as Greens housing spokesman has become the bane of Labor’s existence.
NT senator Malarnidirri McCarthy was arguably the biggest winner in the reshuffle, elevated straight into cabinet to replace Linda Burney as Minister for Indigenous Australians.
Senator McCarthy did not travel to Yarralumla alone – a point not lost on Mr Albanese.
“Can I be bold enough to congratulate Malarndirri on having the most number of guests,” Mr Albanese said to a chorus of laughter.
Once the formalities wrapped up, the prime minister marched his new appointees to the steps of Government House for the customary family photo.
Awaiting instructions from the pack of photographers and camera crew, Mr Albanese ordered his colleagues to take a step back.
“Decisive leadership from the PM,” quipped Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy.
A jovial start to a new dawn.
