Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announces new cabinet

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has today announced the new cabinet lineup which sees Tanya Plibersek removed from her Environment portfolio, Tony Burke retaining the Arts portfolio and Sport Minister Anika Wells picking up the Communications portfolio.

The cabinet reshuffle follows Labor’s historic election result that has delivered the largest ALP caucus since federation.

Prime Minister Albanese retained his frontline team of Defence Minister Richard Marles, Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and Tourism and Trade Minister Don Farrell.

Speaking at a press conference, Prime Minister Albanese announced the new cabinet that sees Tanya Plibersek removed from her Environment portfolio and given the portfolio for Social Services.

Murray Watt is shifting from employment and workplace relations to the Environment portfolio while Chris Bowen retains portfolio for Climate Change and Energy. 

With Sport Minister Anika Wells shedding her role as Minister for Aged Care as she picks up the Communications portfolio, Prime Minister Albanese was questioned about Wells’ appointment as Minister for Communication and Minister for Sport as to whether it was a 'circuit breaker' to get through some further restrictions or further reforms on gambling advertising.

Prime Minister Albanese replied "we're putting sport with infrastructure, it is one of the changes that we will make to put sport across from health.

"It was a natural fit to have Annika Wells. There is this thing happening in 2032 in Brisbane, and that will be a big focus of sporting activity leading up to then, and Annika has played a really important role as well as a Queenslander in getting that together."

Tony Burke has been reappointed as Minister for the Arts and Susan Templeman as Special Envoy for the Arts.

Live Performance Australia (LPA), the national peak body for Australia’s live arts and entertainment industry, welcomed Minister Burke’s reappointment with LPA Chief Executive, Eric Lassen, noting Minister Burke brought significant experience in the portfolio combined with a deep passion for Australian culture and creativity.

“Having led the way on the development of the National Cultural Policy, Revive, we look forward to working with the Minister on the future evolution of the policy.

“This includes the opportunity to further build and strengthen the capabilities and potential of our arts and cultural organisations to contribute to our economic, social and cultural vibrancy including through measures such as live performance production incentives,’ Lassen said.

LPA also welcomes the continuing appointment of Susan Templeman MP as Special Envoy the Arts.

Lassen added “We welcome the Albanese Government’s recognition of the contribution of our artists and cultural organisations and companies to our national life, and the value of having strong and effective voices around the Cabinet table and within Government.

“The Albanese Government’s return represents a tremendous opportunity to build on the strong foundations put in place by the National Cultural Policy and deliver great outcomes for our artists, companies and organisations, and audiences.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s new cabinet, set to be sworn in tomorrow at 9am, includes:

• Richard Marles – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence

• Penny Wong – Minister for Foreign Affairs

• Jim Chalmers – Treasurer

• Katy Gallagher – Minister for Finance

• Don Farrell – Minister for Trade, Tourism and Special Minister of State

• Tony Burke – Minister for Home Affairs, Immigration and Citizenship, Cyber Security, and the Arts

• Mark Butler – Minister for Health and Ageing, Disability and the NDIS

• Chris Bowen – Minister for Climate Change and Energy

• Catherine King – Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government

• Amanda Rishworth – Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations

• Jason Clare – Minister for Education

• Michelle Rowland – Attorney-General

• Tanya Plibersek – Minister for Social Services

• Julie Collins – Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

• Clare O’Neil – Minister for Housing, Homelessness and Minister for Cities

• Madeleine King – Minister for Resources and Northern Australia

• Murray Watt – Minister for the Environment and Water

• Malarndirri McCarthy – Minister for Indigenous Australians

• Anika Wells – Minister for Communications and Minister for Sport

• Pat Conroy – Minister for Defence Industry and Minister for Pacific Island Affairs

• Anne Aly – Minister for Small Business and Minister for International Development and Multicultural Affairs

• Tim Ayres – Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science

• Matt Keogh – Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel

• Kristy McBain – Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories

• Murray Watt – Minister for Emergency Management (in addition to Environment and Water)

• Andrew Giles – Minister for Skills and Training

• Jenny McAllister – Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme

• Dan Merlino – Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services

• Jess Walsh – Minister for Early Childhood Education and Youth

• Sam Rae – Minister for Aged Care and Seniors

A full ministry meeting will follow the swearing-in at Parliament House.