More women are set to join Anthony Albanese’s cabinet, with multiple ministers to be sworn in as part of a pre-election shuffle.
Governor-General Sam Mostyn will swear in the quartet at Government House on Monday 20 January as part of the changes.
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth will take on the NDIS in her portfolio, replacing the outgoing Bill Shorten in the role, while Finance Minister Katy Gallagher will take on his other position of government services minister.
Early Childhood Education Minister Anne Aly also becomes the junior minister for the NDIS, while Aged Care Minister Anika Wells is being promoted to the cabinet.
It’s the second time the Prime Minister has reshuffled it since he came into office.
But, the ministers won’t have too long to settle into their new portfolios, with voters set to head to the polls in a matter of weeks.
The election is due to be held on 17 May the latest, however Mr Albanese hosed down speculation about the timing of the vote.
“I’ve said very clearly, we’re getting on with governing… what I do is lead a government that governs in the interests of Australians each and every day,” he told reporters in Sydney.
The cabinet reshuffle was brought on by the resignation from parliament of former Labor leader Bill Shorten, who will take up the role of vice-chancellor at the University of Canberra.
While his inner-Melbourne electorate of Maribyrnong will not have an elected representative in Canberra for the time being, a by-election is not expected to be held for the safe Labor seat, given the timing of the next election.
Despite the election date not being locked in, both the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have wasted little time in hitting key marginal seats.
Monday will see the Prime Minister make an announcement in the Hunter about production credits in the aluminium sector.
Meanwhile, Mr Dutton used a campaign rally in the Brisbane-based electorate of Ryan on Sunday to launch a coalition policy on tax breaks for small businesses.
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