CANBERRA, Jun 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The new Australian government’s ministry has officially been sworn in.
The 30-member of Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese’s frontbench, which includes a record-breaking 13 women, were sworn-in to their portfolios by Governor-General, David Hurley, at the Government House in Canberra.
Of the 30, 23 will serve in Albanese’s cabinet, the innermost sanctum of the government, where major policy decisions are made.
This morning’s ceremony made history, with Ed Husic and Anne Aly sworn-in as Australia’s first Muslim federal ministers, and Linda Burney, becoming the first Indigenous woman, to serve as Minister for Indigenous Australians.
It comes 11 days after Albanese’s Labour Party claimed victory in the general elections on May 21.
A core team, consisting of Albanese, Deputy PM, Richard Marles, Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, Treasurer, Jim Chalmers and Finance Minister, Katy Gallagher, were previously sworn in on May 23, allowing them to work in the meantime.
Today they were re-sworn in, with Marles moving from the employment to defence portfolio, and Gallagher adding the roles of Minister for Public Service and Minister for Women.
Announcing the ministry last night, Albanese said, it was “as inclusive as Australia itself.”
Ten of 23 cabinet ministers are women.
“This is the largest number of women, who have ever served in an Australian cabinet,” he said.
“We have an overflow of talent on our side of parliament … It’s the most experienced incoming Labour government in our history since federation.”
Mark Butler, who served as a minister in the last Labour government, between 2010 and 2013, was sworn in as the Minister for Health and Aged Care, and Bill Shorten, Albanese’s predecessor, as party leader, as the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and Minister for Government Services.– NNN-AGENCIES
