AUSTRALIA, May 26: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed his new cabinet and the nation's new ambassadors to the United States and the United Nations on Sunday, international media reported.
Morrison on Sunday announced a new-look cabinet, including a record seven women and the first indigenous minister in Australian history, promising that it would focus on "service delivery" for Australians, Xinhua News Agency reported.
"It's also about driving the better use of information technology that can assist Australians getting access to services they need," Morrison told reporters in Canberra, according to Xinhua.
Australian Ambassador Felicity Volk awards women bird guides
Ken Wyatt, a Member of Parliament (MP) from Western Australia, will serve as the Minister for Indigenous Affairs after having served in minor portfolios. "Incredibly honored to be the first Aboriginal Minister for Indigenous Australians, committed to working and walking together with our Elders, families and communities to ensure the greatness of our many nations is reflected in the greatness of our Australian nation, now and forever," Wyatt said in a statement.
Linda Reynolds has been appointed the Minister for Defence only five years after she entered the parliament as a senator while Marise Payne will remain the Minister for Foreign Affairs and has also been named the Minister for Women.
Stuart Robert will be Morrison's Minister for Government Services, Paul Fletcher his Minister for Communications, Sussan Ley the Minister for Environment and Alex Hawke the Minister for International Development and the Pacific. Ley replaced Melissa Price who has been named the defence industry portfolio. Morrison by and large avoided significant changes in the most important portfolios.
In national security Peter Dutton remained as the Minister for Home Affairs and David Coleman the Minister for Immigration. Josh Frydenberg will continue as Treasurer and will be supported by Mathias Cormann as the Finance Minister.
The finance team will be under immediate pressure to deliver Morrison's promised tax cuts before the new financial year starts on July 1. "We put our entire tax plan to the parliament; we just put it to the people of Australia. It is a plan for aspirational Australians, a plan for tax relief not just now, but into the future," the PM said.
"This is an important program of tax relief, out over the medium term, and it was put to the Australian people as a package, so it will be put to the Australian Parliament as a package." Christian Porter was again named Australia's Attorney-General and will add industrial relations to his responsibilities. "That will include creating fairer workplaces and enforcing the rule of law in industrial relations, particularly through the Australian Building and Construction Commission," Morrison said.
Morrison will recommend to the governor-general that Senators Arthur Sinodinos and Mitch Fifield, previously the Ministers for Industry and Communications respectively, as the ambassadors to the U.S. and UN, Xinhua quoted The Australian newspaper.
