Liberal leader Sussan Ley has defended her decision to reduce the number of women in the opposition’s shadow cabinet compared to last term.
Ley, who is the first woman to lead the Liberal Party, announced the new shadow cabinet on Wednesday, after the party agreed to renew its partnership with the Nationals after a brief hiatus.
There are 15 men and eight women in the new shadow cabinet, and 19 men and 11 women in the wider ministry.
This compares to 11 women and 12 men in Peter Dutton’s former shadow cabinet, and 17 men and 13 women in his ministry.
Senator Sarah Henderson issued a statement saying she believed a number of “high-performing Liberal women have been overlooked or demoted” in the new shadow ministry.
Henderson, who served as the Shadow Minister for Education and Communications under Peter Dutton’s leadership, was not given a role in the new shadow cabinet. Neither was Jane Hume, who has been relegated to the backbench after playing a key role as shadow finance minister in the previous term.
Claire Chandler said she has opted to sit on the backbench to speak more freely on issues, while Jacinta Nampijinpa Price was moved out of cabinet to the outer shadow ministry.
On Nine’s Today, Karl Stefanovic asked Ley why she had a lower number of women in the shadow cabinet than Peter Dutton.
Ley said: “Forty per cent of my shadow ministry are women. Of course I want to see more women in my party room every single day.”
“As a woman leader, that sends a signal to women. But I will be there at the table for all the big calls when it comes to policy development.”
While the shadow cabinet will have fewer women, it will also have some key women prompted to central roles. Senator Michaelia Cash will become shadow minister for foreign affairs, while Melissa McIntosh will take on the ministries for women and communications.
Kerrynne Liddle was named as shadow minister for Indigenous Australians and will also hold the social services portfolio. Angie Bell was named shadow minister for the environment.
Other notable appointments include Ted O’Brien as shadow treasurer, James Patterson as shadow finance minister, and Andrew Hastie in home affairs. Angus Taylor will be shadow minister for defence and Dan Tehan has been appointed as shadow minister for energy and emissions reduction (it’s worth noting the words “climate change” have been removed from this portfolio.)