Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announces his new cabinet in Canberra, Australia, Sept. 20, 2015. Former Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull was sworn in as Australia's new prime minister on Sept. 15. (Xinhua/Xu Haijing)
CANBERRA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Sunday announced the line-up of his new cabinet almost a week after he toppled former Prime Minister Tony Abbott in a party spill.
"Today I'm announcing a 21st century government and a ministry for the future," Turnbull told reporters at a press conference in Canberra on Sunday afternoon.
"As you will have gathered, there are some very big changes in the cabinet -- there are now five women in the cabinet," he said.
An increased number, up to five from two, of women being promoted to the inner cabinet has been a shining spot of the new cabinet, showing the new prime minister's effort to address the criticism of lack of females in the Abbott government.
Apart from Julie Bishop and Sussan Ley keeping their portfolios as foreign minister and minister for health, a number of women holding lower positions in the Abbott government have been promoted, including Marisa Payne, who stands out in the new cabinet to be the first female defense minister in Australian history.
Meanwhile, former Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Michaelia Cash is promoted as Employment Minister and Minister for Women, and former Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer Kelly O'Dwyer is promoted as Small Business Minister and Assistant Treasurer.
Without any surprise, former Social Services Minister Scott Morrison becomes Treasurer, taking the second most important portfolio and will be responsible for managing the country's economy.
Outgoing Treasurer Joe Hockey is expected to quit parliament. Former Western Australian Treasurer Christian Porter is named Social Services Minister.
Turnbull said the reshuffle is about "renewal" and bringing young blood into the cabinet.
"The introduction of new talent means that...others have to leave. One of the great challenges for any leader is to ensure that there is renewal," he said.
"That...we are able to bring up new talent, new faces, into leadership positions over time, and that often means, that invariably means in fact, that very capable people have to move on stand aside so that others can come through. And that's tough, for everybody concerned."
Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will be the new minister for resources, energy and northern Australia, with the former minister Ian Macfarlane excluded from the cabinet.
Senator Simon Birmingham, Assistant Minister for Education and Training, replaces Christopher Pyne to be Minister for Education. Pyne was given the portfolio of industry, innovation and science, held previously also by Ian Macfarlane.
The new prime minister also impressed the nation with a newly- added portfolio of cities and the built environment, a move welcomed by the business sector and the opposition.
"After two years of inaction on urban policy...I'm happy that Mr Turnbull has seen fit to re-engage with this critical policy area," said Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and Shadow Minister for Cities Anthony Albanese.
"The appointment of Australia's first ever federal Minister for Cities is a welcome step to addressing Australia's low productivity levels," said the Property Council of Australia (PCA).
PCA chief executive Ken Morrison warmly welcomed Jamie Briggs to take the portfolio, saying Briggs as Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development delivered an impressive performance in securing the government's 50 billion AU dollar (36 billion U.S. dollar) infrastructure commitment in last year's budget.
Related:
Australian cabinet faces reshuffle amid poor rating
CANBERRA, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Australian government ministers on Friday played down rumors of a front bench reshuffle, which had been hinted as a solution to the prime minister's poor approval rating.
As a federal election looms in 2016, talk of a cabinet refresh has been floated as a solution to the lack of public support for the government, with local media reporting Prime Minister Tony Abbott is planning to ax up to six prominent ministers. Full story
