MEMBER for Farrer Sussan Ley has retained the key health portfolio in Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s latest cabinet reshuffle.
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Ms Ley is among six women in cabinet as the Coalition sharpens its attention on the election later this year and attempts to move on from the internal turbulence of the sacking of former human services minister Stuart Robert and retirements of senior minister Andrew Robb and National Party leader Warren Truss.
Ms Ley, who also remains in charge of sport and aged care, was promoted to cabinet in late 2014 by former Prime Minister Tony Abbott as only the second woman on the Coalition front bench.
“Ten women in the overall executive of government is a record high,” she said.
“Six women in cabinet, deputy leaders of both the Liberal and National parties are women, so I am delighted about all those things.
“But the Prime Minister has promoted some real talent.”
National Party deputy leader Fiona Nash is among the winners from the reshuffle and her responsibilities as the regional development, regional communications and rural health minister will be highly relevant to the Farrer and Indi electorates.
Regional development was previously handled by Mr Truss and includes the highly sought after stronger regions funding with another round due to be released before the election.
The other female promoted to cabinet is Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells from Wollongong in the international development portfolio.
Riverina MP Michael McCormack has been appointed assistant defence minister after losing out to Ms Nash for the National Party deputy leader position.
Another reshuffle winner is Victorian MP Dan Tehan, who takes on defence materiel and veterans’ affairs.
He contested Liberal Party pre-selection in Indi in 2001 alongside eventual winner Sophie Mirabella and Ms Ley before being elected to parliament in the seat of Wannon.
Ms Ley played down suggestions of instability within the Coalition government ranks.
“Although it appears to be a disturbance from the outside, I don’t feel that from the inside even among the portfolios that have changed,” she said.
“Having been part of the Howard Government, which people look back on as being smooth sailing, there were in fact a few bumps.
“I am focusing on the trajectory of what we will do as a government and we’ve made a strong, positive start.”