AUSTRALIA
Pty Ltd had an interest in Nimrod Resources. Mr Robert recognised that this connection would create the impression that at the time he went to Beijing he had something personally to gain from the Nimrod Resources project.” Mr Turnbull advised that “as a result, Mr Robert has asked me not to consider him in the pending reshuffle of the ministry. I thank him for his service as a minister and for his candid co-operation with Dr Parkinson in his inquiry.” Mr Turnbull noted that “Dr Parkinson concluded that Mr Robert had acted inconsistently with the Statement of Ministerial Standards, although he accepts that Mr Robert may not have intended to do so. He also notes that Mr Robert appears not to have received any financial benefit and that the conduct in question did not directly relate to Mr Robert’s Ministerial duties.” The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Bill Shorten MP, commented that “Malcolm Turnbull is too arrogant to answer questions in the Parliament on the Stuart Robert scandal, too arrogant to face the media, too arrogant to be accountable to the Australian people. I do not believe that Mr Turnbull’s Liberals understand what Stuart Robert has done wrong, even now. The new Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce, has said, and I quote, ‘what was the crime?’ Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has said and I quote, ‘it’s perfectly acceptable.’ Treasurer Scott Morrison, a Stuart Robert ally has said that it was a ‘beat-up’. Even today in Mr Turnbull’s media statement, he has not actually said that Stuart Robert has done the wrong thing.” This matter has not concluded as the Shadow
Attorney-General, Hon. Mark Dreyfus MP, has referred Mr Robert’s action to the Australian Federal Police for further investigation.
Prime Minister Turnbull announces new Ministry The Prime Minister, Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP, has been forced to revise his ministerial line-up due to a number of Ministers being forced to resign and others announcing their retirement in the lead up to the election later in 2016.
On 13 February, the Prime Minister announced his new Ministry. Mr Turnbull stated that “the new ministerial line up that I’m announcing today is a dynamic team which combines youth, new talent, experience, continuity and a real sense of innovation and enterprise. It’s a team that’s focused on Australia’s future, focused on the policies that will encourage innovation and enterprise, secure our prosperity as a 21st century economy with a strong social welfare safety net, ensure we remain the nation we want to be, we want to remain, high wages, generous social welfare safety net, advanced technology, jobs for our children and our grandchildren in this the most exciting time in human history.” The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Bill Shorten MP, commented that “I think that the Turnbull Government’s in a bit of chaos really. It’s bad form to lose 14 ministers in the last six months. We’re about two months or three months away from a Budget and we’ve got a whole lot of L-plate ministers trying to work out how to get the Budget back in the black, how to make big decisions about the future of Australia. This ministerial reshuffle, no amount of camouflage can
disguise what it is: it’s a response to the Stuart Robert scandal. Malcolm Turnbull promised a stronger form of government after he rolled Tony Abbott. Everyone in Australia is just wondering when it begins.”
Mr Turnbull paid tribute to two senior ministers who
announced their retirement. Hon. Warren Truss MP, former leader of the Nationals and Deputy Prime Minister will be retiring at the next election and stepping down from the ministry. Similarly, Hon. Andrew Robb MP, former Minister for Trade, announced that he also would be retiring at the next election. Mr Turnbull stated that “I want to pay tribute, especially to two towering figures of the Coalition in government and indeed in opposition, who retired during this week, Warren Truss and Andrew Robb. And you know, they have left us and their talents are immense but what it has underlined to me and this has been the hardest part of my work since then, is the enormous talent we have in our party room.”
Due to the retirement of Mr
Truss, Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP, and Hon. Fiona Nash MP, were elected as Leader and Deputy Leader respectively of the National Party. Under the Coalition agreement, Mr Joyce becomes Deputy Prime Minister. Mr Joyce retained his portfolio of Agriculture and Water Resources, while Ms Nash becomes Minister for Regional Development, Regional Communications and Rural Health.
Hon. Steven Ciobo MP, takes over from Mr Robb as the Minister for Trade but
the Prime Minister noted that “I’m appointing Andrew Robb as a Special Envoy for Trade between now and the election so that he can support Steven in the transition into the new portfolio and ensure that Andrew’s remarkable range of international contacts will be introduced to his successor.” Hon. Darren Chester MP, will take on Mr Truss’s responsibilities for infrastructure and transport. Senator Hon. Mathias Cormann retains his position as Minister for Finance but also takes on the role of Special Minister of State. Senator Hon. Scott Ryan takes on the role of Minister for Vocational Education and Skills. Hon. Alan Tudge MP becomes Minister for Human Services, Mr Dan Tehan MP, becomes Minister for Defence Material and the Minister for Veterans’ Services, and Mr Craig Laundy MP, becomes Minister for Multicultural Affairs.
Senator Hon. Concetta Fierravanti-Wells becomes Minister for International Development and the Pacific and Senator Matt Canavan becomes Minister for Northern Australia.
Senate Additional Estimates 8 to 12 February 2016
Senate estimates are one of the most effective instruments of the Australian Parliament for scrutinising and holding
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