Turnbull gets to work on disability, trade

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has sealed a deal on disability funding and eased concerns among the Nationals, as he weighs up his new cabinet.

Malcolm Turnbull has set about clearing Tony Abbott's policy in-tray, with deals on disability funding and the introduction of the China free trade deal laws.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and NSW Premier Mike Baird joined the prime minister in Canberra on Wednesday to sign national disability insurance scheme agreements which deliver services to 245,000 people with disabilities in the two states.

Mr Turnbull also found time to promote prostate cancer awareness and meet the victorious Australian women's cricket team at Parliament House.

The government introduced bills to enact the China free trade agreement and crack down on multinational tax avoidance.

But Mr Turnbull faces a troubled few days before his new cabinet is sworn in on Monday.

Treasurer Joe Hockey is expected to be the top casualty of the reshuffle after Mr Turnbull's ousting of Mr Abbott.

"I've had discussions with the prime minister," Mr Hockey told reporters in Canberra.

"We'll leave it at that. We'll see what happens."

It is understood Immigration Minister Peter Dutton offered his resignation by text message to Mr Turnbull, but the prime minister would only say he had not spoken to Mr Dutton.

Conservative ministers Eric Abetz and Kevin Andrews are expected to be demoted in the reshuffle.

Liberal senator Zed Seselja, who supported Mr Abbott in Monday's leadership ballot, said the changes to the ministry needed to reflect the fact that Mr Turnbull led a "predominantly conservative party".

Attorney-General George Brandis, who backed Mr Turnbull in the ballot, said he anticipated changes.

"I think it is always good that there should be some refreshment of the frontbench team and I expect there will be," Senator Brandis said.

Mr Turnbull said he was very committed to putting more women into ministry roles.

The Liberal leader is facing pressure to explain what he had offered The Nationals during talks on a renewed coalition agreement signed on Tuesday.

The offer to put the water portfolio under Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce was "unremarkable", he said.

Social Services Minister Scott Morrison would negotiate with the Nationals on boosting payments to single-income families.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said Mr Turnbull, a moderate Liberal, had found himself having to throw "billions of dollars" at the conservative Nationals to keep them happy.

"It is clear that we are seeing that politics is being put ahead of sensible, rational policy making in this country," he said.

Queensland Liberal National Party MP Matt Canavan said he had been disappointed with the budget cut which had ignored stay-at-home parents, so Mr Turnbull's "change of direction" was welcome.

South Australian Liberal MP Tony Pasin said he was nervous about the "deeper involvement by the National party with respect to the implementation of the (Murray-Darling) plan".

Mr Abbott, who stayed away from question time on Wednesday for the second day, has yet to say whether he will stay on in parliament beyond the next election.

He received a phone call from US President Barack Obama on Wednesday to thank him for his service, praising him as a "very good mate on many important issues".

Mr Turnbull also received a call from President Obama.

The prime minister contacted all eight Senate crossbenchers assuring them he wanted to have open communication.

Liberal Democrats senator David Leyonhjelm said it was a brief chat with a promise to talk again.

Independent senator Glenn Lazarus said he expected Mr Turnbull would be easier to work with than Mr Abbott.

"I was pretty frustrated with Tony Abbott," Senator Lazarus told ABC radio.

"There was no enthusiasm to meet with us."


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Source: AAP


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