Jane Hume, Sarah Henderson dumped as Sussan Ley unveils shadow cabinet with David Littleproud
Sussan Ley has dumped Jane Hume from the Coalition frontbench and moved leadership rival Angus Taylor out of his role as shadow treasurer as part of a new-look opposition frontbench which also sees Jacinta Nampijinpa Price demoted.
Ms Ley unveiled her shadow ministry on Wednesday alongside Nationals Leader David Littleproud, after the pair salvaged the alliance between their two parties.
Liberal deputy Ted O'Brien will become the shadow treasurer and Mr Taylor will move to defence to replace Andrew Hastie, who will in turn take the home affairs portfolio from James Paterson.
Senator Paterson will move to finance, the role previously held by Jane Hume who has been booted from the line-up.
Ms Ley denied the move was politically motivated, given Senator Hume's support for Angus Taylor and criticism from colleagues about her handling of the work from home issue during the election campaign.
"She is an enormously talented, fantastic member of this team who has contributed amazingly over her political career [and] will continue to do so," Ms Ley said.
Fellow Victorian senator Sarah Henderson was also dumped from the frontbench, with Jonathon Duniam to take her education portfolio.
Angie Bell shifts into environment, while Michaelia Cash will hold the foreign affairs portfolio and Dan Tehan will be responsible for energy.
The new ministry sees several key backers of Sussan Ley rewarded, including Alex Hawke who returns to the frontbench in the industry portfolio, and prominent moderate Andrew Bragg who will be responsible for housing and productivity.
But Senator Price has been moved out of the shadow cabinet after she ruffled feathers across the Coalition when she sensationally switched from the Nationals to the Liberals to run for the deputy position, which she ultimately did not do.
Her new portfolio of defence industry will be in the outer shadow ministry.
The Nationals leadership team of David Littleproud, Kevin Hogan and Bridget McKenzie will all hold their frontbench portfolios in agriculture, trade, and infrastructure.
Susan McDonald will remain in the resources portfolio, while Darren Chester moves into the veterans portfolio to replace Barnaby Joyce, who moves with Michael McCormack to the backbench.
Pat Conagahn will move into the outer ministry for the Nationals as shadow assistant treasurer.
Matt Canavan, who challenged Mr Littleproud for the Nationals leadership after the election, does not have a portfolio.
Four Liberals will join the frontbench, with Tim Wilson in employment, Kerrynne Liddle in social services and Indigenous affairs, Julian Leeser as shadow attorney-general, and James McGrath responsible for electoral matters and cities.
Several women have been promoted into assistant or outer portfolios, including Melissa Price in science, Zoe McKenzie in education and mental health, Leah Blyth in families, and Maria Kovacic in family violence.
Gisele Kapterian will hold an assistant role in the communications portfolio if she is elected to the seat of Bradfield.
Scott Buchholz moves into the outer ministry in the skills portfolio, as does Jason Wood in the Pacific portfolio.
Conservatives Claire Chandler and Tony Pasin have lost their assistant spots, while Dave Sharma will be assistant spokesperson for competition and treasury.
Aaron Violi, Garth Hamilton and Simon Kennedy are among those who were considered in the frame for assistant roles but missed out.
Ms Ley said every Coalition MP and senator had "a role to play, even if they are not formally in the line-up" but said the leadership team "draws on a deep well of Australian experience... Our team is one of strivers and optimists, of leaders and listeners...
"The new Coalition shadow ministry balances experiences with new talent. It reflects the full range of our philosophical traditions, values and perspectives across our two great party rooms."
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