New Australia PM reshuffles Cabinet, names 1st female defense minister

Mr Joyce denied he gave the plan such an endorsement. “Scott never warned anyone”, Abbott told the newspaper after a morning surf in Sydney on Monday.

News of that comes as the head of the independent Productivity Commission lashes the Coalition for failing to respond to reports it commissioned up to two years ago. The only bright spot in all this political skulduggery is the prospect of a strong electoral win for Mr Turnbull, favoured by seven in 10 voters for the top post over opposition leader Bill Shorten, according to one pollster.

Mr Turnbull’s challenges are many, but some of the biggest will be to demonstrate there is substance to his Cabinet and that the Liberal Party’s purported return to traditional Menzian liberal values, and the commensurate shift away from hard-line conservatism, can be met through policy changes.

Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss retained the Infrastructure and Regional Development portfolio, while deputy party leader Barnaby Joyce retained the Agriculture portfolio, with the added responsibility of water resources.

In his first interview as the PM, Turnbull condemned domestic violence and the approach of the previous governments towards it. He assured that there will be more focus on all the possible levers on tax and economic reform.

He continued: “It is vital to have a contemporary, 21st-century government and that requires renewal”.

“I have nothing in common with Frank Underwood, other than we both use a rowing machine”, Mr Turnbull joked on Channel Seven.

But his departure from office has not protected him from criticism.

Arthur Sinodinos, previously a backbencher, now takes on the role of cabinet secretary.

The 550-page Harper review cost $3 million and was delivered to the government in March.

But with the Australian economy slowing, the jobless rate rising and business confidence sinking, Turnbull convinced his colleagues of looming defeat in next year’s scheduled poll, should they stick with the unpopular Abbott.

“An issue here or there may selectively be picked off, but the outcome is minimal change despite the initial promise”.

“I don’t see these issues as mutually exclusive.”

The removal of Abbott and his loyalists is seen as a setback for a Japanese bid to build stealth submarines for Australia.

Governor General Peter Gosgrove, the British monarch’s representative in Australia, swore in Turnbull’s first 21-member Cabinet.

As part of her new role, O’Dwyer will also act as assistant treasurer.

He said Mr Turnbull’s first 100 days would be essential in developing a new economic narrative.

Turnbull’s victory is reminiscent of the coup former prime minister Julia Gillard staged against Kevin Rudd in 2010 and makes the former communications minister Australia’s fifth prime minister in eight years.

Malcolm Turnbull’s renovation of the Federal Ministry smacks of a combination of revenge and reward with some inspired choices and some plain dumb mistakes.