KEY POINTS:
- Scott Morrison moved out of the Immigration portfolio
- Science portfolio reinstated
- Women get greater presence in cabinet with second female Minister and two female Parliamentary Secretaries
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has promoted Peter Dutton to immigration and moved Scott Morrison into social services in a much bigger ministerial reshuffle than expected.
Mr Abbott announced his new look team in Canberra on Sunday, saying it would "reset and refocus the government for the coming year".
"This is a ministry for jobs and families and it is a sign that this is a government which wants the economy and the budget to be front and centre in the coming year," he told reporters in Canberra.
The prime minister announced that Scott Morrison would be "promoted" to the Minister for Social Services, saying this is an "absolutely critical domestic portfolio".
In a shock promotion, former Social Services Minster Kevin Andrews was appointed to defence at the expense of David Johnston, who has been dumped from cabinet.
Sussan Ley will take on Health, becoming the second woman in the Abbott cabinet.
Josh Frydenberg will become assistant treasurer, replacing Arthur Sinodinos, whose resignation from the role sparked the reshuffle.
Brett Mason has been dropped as parliamentary secretary for foreign affairs and the vacancy filled by Steve Ciobo.
Meanwhile, Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane will become the Minister for Industry and Science, rectifying an omission that has plagued the government
Addressing the dumping of Senator Johnston, the prime minister said "no one goes on forever". However, the resignation of Senator Sinodinos provided an opportunity to "refresh and reset" the government.
"Just because someone leaves the government doesn't mean that he or she has done a poor job," he said. "Johnno did a fine job as defence minister and Brett Mason has done a good job in his role."
Mr Andrews would be a "very, very safe pair of hands" as defence minister. "He will do an excellent job in this difficult and vital portfolio," Mr Abbott said.
The prime minister also heaped praise on outgoing immigration minister Scott Morrison as a master of difficult policy and administration, who had all but stopped the boats.
As part of an expanded social services portfolio, Mr Morrison will have responsibility for child care and Mr Abbott's signature paid parental leave scheme.
"He is a very tough and competent political operator but he is also an extremely decent human being," the prime minister said.
"We need good judgment in these areas and that is exactly what you will get from Scott Morrison."
Rounding out Mr Abbott's reshuffle, Christian Porter, Bob Baldwin and Karen Andrews were all named parliamentary secretaries.
The new ministry will be sworn in on Tuesday.
See the full list of the Abbott ministry:
Labor's response
Acting opposition leader Penny Wong said no reshuffle could fix the government's biggest problem, its unpopular budget.
"You might change the tyres on the bus but the wheels are still spinning," she told reporters in Adelaide.
"It is a vote of no confidence in the PM's cabinet. You don't need to have this extensive a reshuffle if your cabinet is performing well."
