Ted O'Brien and Tim Wilson win big in shadow cabinet reshuffle, Jane Hume and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price lose out
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has unveiled her new shadow cabinet with a bold reshuffle that elevates key allies and sidelines former political heavyweights.
The frontbench announcement comes after a bruising leadership transition, a temporary Nationals walkout, and growing pressure to refresh the Coalition's policy agenda.
'I'm not going to reflect on the qualities of individuals with respect to the qualities of other individuals,' Ms Ley told reporters when asked about some of her decisions.
'I don't think that's a fair question… I know that we have harnessed the talent that we need in this shadow ministry going forward, but there is a role for every single person.'
Sky News has broken down the biggest winners and losers in the newly revamped frontbench. Winners
Deputy leader Ted O'Brien has emerged as one of the biggest winners, promoted to shadow treasurer from shadow energy minister.
The move was largely expected given the Liberal Party tradition that the deputy leader chooses their own portfolio.
Former home affairs minister James Paterson has joined the opposition's economic team, supporting Mr O'Brien as the new shadow finance minister.
Despite being close to the political fallout of the Coalition's recent election loss, Mr Paterson negotiated his way into one of the more powerful roles on the frontbench.
Senator Andrew Bragg was rewarded with a new economic brief, taking on productivity and deregulation, as well as housing.
Tim Wilson, who was re-elected to parliament as the Member for Goldstein, has returned to the frontbench as shadow minister for industrial relations, employment and small business.
Alex Hawke, a long-time factional ally of Ms Ley, also returns from the wilderness as manager of opposition business and shadow minister for industry and innovation.
Another notable return to the frontbench was new shadow attorney general Julian Leeser, who quit the frontbench in the last term over the Voice to Parliament referendum. Losers
Former shadow finance minister Jane Hume, a prominent media performer, was among the most shocking omissions from Ms Ley's new frontbench.
Ms Ley declined to clarify whether Ms Hume had rejected a more junior role, but a source has said that she was dumped.
The omission has been seen as a casualty of her public support for tightening public service work-from-home rules during the election campaign.
Sarah Henderson, the former shadow education minister, was also cut, with sources confirming it was not a voluntary departure.
Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price may have avoided total exclusion, but she was demoted from cabinet to outer ministry after defecting from the Nationals.
Ms Price was removed as shadow minister for indigenous affairs and government efficiency, and handed the shadow defence industry portfolio.
The reshuffle has resulted in fewer women in shadow cabinet—six, down from seven—a curious outcome for the party's first female opposition leader.
Former National Party leaders Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack were also left out of the new frontbench, following their public criticism of Mr Littleproud's leadership.
The reshuffle follows the Nationals' decision to rejoin the Coalition after temporarily walking out over policy disputes.
Following the split, the Liberal Party agreed to four key policy demands from the Nationals, and the Nationals agreed to cabinet solidarity.
After a Nationals partyroom meeting on Wednesday morning, Ms Ley and Mr Littleproud officially reached the new agreement.
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Faced with a recreation of her cell, Cheng became emotional and said the months she spent inside were 'as close to dying and wanting to die as I ever got'. 'Yeah, this is where I spent six months,' she said as she entered the mock cell. 'Just sitting like this, thinking I was never gonna get out and absolutely helpless.' The room was simple — blank, cream walls, a bed and a stool for the guards that watched over her 24/7. She was forbidden from talking or making the 'slightest movement', and had to receive permission before so much as scratching herself, she explained. 'So you're in a bare room, and you are guarded and watched at all times by two guards,' Cheng said. 'One stands in front of me, one sits next to me, and they take turns with the standing and sitting. 'I have to sit on the edge of the bed and have my hands on my lap. 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