Malcolm Turnbull Sweeps Massive Broom Through Australia’s Government

Some Abbott allies stepped aside or refused portfolios, with the resignation of Treasurer (finance minister) Joe Hockey from parliament the biggest surprise.

Mr Andrews also took a swipe at his predecessor, Western Australian senator David Johnston, whom he replaced late previous year .

Mr Andrews said it had “been a great honour” to be Defence Minister and named as his “flagship achievement” was committing to a continuous build of surface naval ships to give defence industry and the navy certainty in the years ahead. Kevin Andrews took the unusual step of announcing his own demotion before Turnbull unveiled his ministry.

Mr Fletcher now takes on a Parliamentary front bench role that had become defunct following the election of the Coalition in September 2013.

The removal of Hockey is part of a wider cabinet reshuffle that Turnbull said will form a “21st Century Government and a ministry for the future”.

Andrew Robb retains his Trade and Investment portfolio but will be boosted by Senator Colbeck’s elevation to be his Assistant Minister.

Social Services Minister Scott Morrison is widely tipped to replace Hockey – despite voting for Abbott in the Monday night contest for the Liberal Party leadership that Turnbull won 54-44.

“I believe he has a further contribution to make in our nation’s service”.

“The only person who offered me the job of Treasurer before the ballot on Monday was Tony Abbott”, he said.

New Turnbull cabinet reshuffle resurrects previously defunct position.

Two Abbott backers were elevated – Christian Porter to social services and Josh Frydenberg entering cabinet in the resources portfolio.

The extreme right might not like the Prime Minister but the rest of Australia apparently does.

The near-revolving door of prime ministers makes working in a startup seem more reliable, Davidson says.

Australia’s new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

The posts of cabinet secretary and assistant cabinet secretary will be assumed by Turnbull’s Liberal Party supporters Arthur Sinodinos and Scott Ryan, respectively.

Abbott was the most conservative leader in Australia’s history.

Marise Payne | the first woman to be minister of defence.

Michaelia Cash: Supported Malcolm Turnbull and becomes the new Employment Minister. But more had been hoped of Turnbull, particularly after Abbott’s brutal anti-renewables rhetoric had chased away global investors.

The stunning coup that installed Malcolm Turnbull as Australia’s prime minister last week was welcome news to financial markets, with newly hopeful investors lifting stocks and the home currency.

To secure a new Coalition agreement with the Nationals, Turnbull agreed to transfer responsibility for water policy (although not the water trigger in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act) to the agriculture minister, Barnaby Joyce, from the environment minister, Greg Hunt.

Victorian MP and former political staffer Kelly O’Dwyer was promoted to cabinet in a key economic role, taking on the position of Minister for Small Business and Assistant Treasurer.

Ms Bishop – who heads to New York this week for talks on national security, aid and development – keeps foreign affairs, while Sussan Ley hangs onto health and sport.

Eric Abetz: A high-profile Tony Abbott loyalist and conservative, dumped as Employment Minister and Leader of the Government in the Senate.