AUSTRALIA
ABBOTT LIBERAL/NATIONAL COALITION GOVERNMENT ELECTED
Hon. Tony Abbott, MP
The Federal election held on 7 September 2013 resulted in a decisive victory for the Liberal/ National Coalition led by Hon. Tony Abbott, MP. In the 150 seat House of Representatives Chamber the Coalition increased its representation from 73 to 90 seats. The Australian Labor Party representation fell from 72 seats to 55. The Greens, Katter’s Australian Party and the Palmer United Party each gained one seat. In addition, two independent members were elected. While the Coalition will have a commanding majority in the House of Representatives it is a different story in the Senate. Half of the Senate was up for re-election with new Senators taking their seats from 1 July 2014. As a result of complicated preference deals, a range of minor party Senators have been elected including two Senators for the Palmer United Party, and one Senator each for the Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party, the Liberal Democrats, and the Family First Party. The Senate vote for the
State of Western Australia was subject to a recount but the result is still not clear as the Australian Electoral Commission reported that it had lost 1370 votes. At the time of reporting this issue was still subject to investigation. Mr Abbott will not have a majority in the Senate which means he will need to negotiate with the various Senators to deliver his policies. In particular, Mr Abbott is committed to repealing key policies of the previous Labor Government
Hon. Joe Hockey, MP
including the carbon pricing mechanism and the minerals resource rent tax. At the same time, the Labor party is opposed to Mr Abbott’s signature policy of paid parental leave which will provide mothers with 26 weeks of paid parental leave, at their actual wage capped to $150 000. In the 44th Parliament all eyes will be on the Senate.
New Abbott Ministry sworn in On 18 September the Governor- General H.E. the Hon. Quentin Bryce, AC, CVO swore in the new
Government. Hon. Tony Abbott, MP became the 28th Prime Minister of Australia. The Leader of the Nationals, Hon. Warren Truss, MP, was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, while the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party, Hon. Julie Bishop, MP, was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Leader of the Government in the Senate, Sen. the Hon. Eric Abetz was appointed Minister for Employment, and the Deputy Leader of the Senate, Sen. the Hon. George Brandis QC was appointed Attorney-General and Minister for the Arts. In a break with Coalition convention the position of Trade Minister which is normally taken by a National Member was given to a Liberal, Hon. Andrew Robb, MP. In addition, Hon. Joe Hockey, MP, was appointed Treasurer, Hon. Malcolm Turnbull, MP, became Minister for Communications, Hon. Greg Hunt, MP, became Minister for the Environment, and Sen. the Hon. Mathais Cormann took on the role of Minister for Finance. Of the 19 people in the Cabinet only one is female. There are six women in total among the 42 cabinet ministers, outer ministers and parliamentary secretaries.
In announcing his Ministry, Mr
Abbot stated that “this is the team that will scrap the carbon tax, end the waste, stop the boats, build the roads of the 21st Century and deliver the strong and dynamic economy that we need”. Mr Abbott noted that the titles
Hon. Malcolm Turnbull, MP
Liberal member for Tangney, Dr Dennis Jensen, MP, criticized
The Parliamentarian | 2013: Issue Four | 345
of Ministers had been simplified compared with the previous government. He stated that “the simplification of ministerial and
Hon. Julie Bishop, MP
departmental titles reflects my determination to run a ‘back to basics’ government”. However concern had been raised that there is now a lack of emphasis on certain policy areas such as science and ageing which are not included in any ministerial title.
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