Rocky Road Ahead for New Cabinet Ministers: Expert

Australian Governor-General Sam Mostyn and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pose for photographs with newly sworn in members of the federal cabinet ministry during a swearing in ceremony at Government House in Canberra, Australia on July 29, 2024. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

It’s likely to be business as usual for some members of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s new cabinet. Still, according to one expert, some MPs may be in for a rockier road going forward.

Precipitated by last week’s retirements of Indigenous Minister Australians Linda Burney and Skills and Training Minister Brendan O'Connor, the cabinet reshuffle is the first since Mr. Albanese formed government in 2022.

Mr. Albanese, who ousted the former Assistant Minister for the Republic role as part of his restructuring, said the government had strength and depth.

“I am proud to lead a talented and united cabinet government that is focussed every day on continuing to deliver better outcomes and more opportunities for all Australians,” he said in a statement.

“Our ministry works together, listens to each other and acts decisively with purpose.

Following the controversy around his handling of immigration matters, Andrew Giles has been moved to skills and training, and Minister for Home Affairs Clare O'Neil will oversee housing and homelessness, while Malarndirri McCarthy has taken on Linda Burney’s role as indigenous minister.

Pat Conroy has retained his role in defence industry while being elevated to the cabinet.

MPs to Face New Challenges

Australian Institute for Progress (AIP) Executive Director Graham Young said one area of contention could be the appointment of Tony Burke to lead the combined home affairs, immigration, multicultural affairs, and cyber security portfolios.

Mr. Young says the Western Sydney MP could find himself caught between two worlds in navigating his new role.

As the member for the electorate of Watson, Mr. Burke has a large Islamic voter base. The AIP’s Mr. Young said the MP remained quiet following the Palestinian Hamas terror attacks on Israel on Oct. 7.

Further, Mr. Burke will need to deal with emergent grassroots election campaigners, The Muslim Vote, while also demonstrating tough action on illegal immigrants—many of whom come from Islamic nations.

“We’ve never had people running for Catholics or Protestants, you just don’t run on religion,” Mr. Young told The Epoch Times. “He could be in an interesting position.”

New Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt will also need to contend with some of the consequences of recently passed laws.

Under changes to the Fair Work Act, casual employees who find themselves working in conditions similar to a regular employee, have the option to convert to permanent status, often with little scope for the employer to refuse.

The Fair Work Commission will also gain the power to set the base pay, penalty rates, and superannuation of “gig” workers such as Uber drivers.

While Labor says the rules will ensure fairer work conditions and protections, opponents have expressed concern over the impacts on businesses and the potential for price rises in “gig” industries like food delivery.

“I’m not sure I'd want to be in that industrial relations portfolio when some of the ramifications come through,” Mr. Young said.

“They make the rules so difficult that it’s almost not worth the risk of doing business,” he added.

Little Difference to be Felt at Polling Booths

Overall, though, the cabinet reshuffle is unlikely to make a massive difference to how voters respond come the next election.

“It’s very rare for a first-term government to lose,” Mr. Young said.

Mr. Young said the Teal independents sitting in parliament made for a substantial challenge and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton would need a greater approval rating to come through.

His prediction is that Labor will form government again, but as a minority.

Mr. Young hinted at similarities, however, between the current Labor government and that of the Gough Whitlam government - a government that lasted two terms but only from 1972 to 1975.

“Circumstances weren’t that dissimilar,” he said.

At the time, there were complaints around high fuel prices, high inflation, radical governmental change and in 1975, it led the Coalition to a landslide victory.

Immigration a Key Focus: Professor

Griffith University politics associate professor Paul Williams told The Epoch Times reshuffles seldom led to much public attention.

Mr. Williams did note some interesting snippets from the reorganisation of the front bench, including a heightened importance around immigration issues.

“It was inevitable O'Neil and Giles would be moved given the running sore of the High Court’s refugee release decision,” Mr. Williams told The Epoch Times, in regard to public outrage after criminal migrants were allowed to go free on Australian soil.

“Albanese must have been relieved two ministers have stepped down to offer the opportunity for a reshuffle.

“The interesting thing is that immigration has been elevated to cabinet status and given to a senior minister—recognition it’s a sensitive issue that could hurt the government in 2025.”

The Who’s Who of the Reshuffle

Key cabinet members Richard Marles, Penny Wong, and Jim Chalmers will all maintain their present roles in defence, foreign affairs and the treasury, while Katy Gallagher will resume her role in finance and Don Farrell will still oversee trade.

Mark Butler will oversee health, Chris Bowen climate change and energy, and Tanya Plibersek environment and water.

Catherine King will retain her role in infrastructure and transport, while Amanda Rishworth will remain in social services, and Bill Shorten will continue to oversee the NDIS and government services.

Mark Dreyfus will remain as attorney-general, and Jason Clare will stay as education minister.

Previous housing minister, Julie Collins, will take on the agriculture and small business portfolio, and Michelle Rowland and Madeleine King will keep their respective roles in communications and resources.

Ed Husic will continue to oversee industry and science. A full list of ministerial changes can be read here.