The revamped Coalition has revealed its shadow ministry, with Angus Taylor naming Tim Wilson as shadow treasurer, while Andrew Bragg takes on housing, Pat Conaghan has financial services, and Senator Claire Chandler will spearhead finance.
The revamped Coalition has revealed its shadow ministry, with Liberal Leader Taylor announcing the frontbench reshuffle following the formal renewal of the Coalition agreement on Monday (16 February).
Among the high-profile changes is the appointment of Wilson as shadow treasurer.
Wilson, the federal member for Goldstein, previously served as the shadow minister for home affairs and takes over the Treasury portfolio from Taylor, who now leads the Liberal Party.
Wilson brings a background in public policy and economics to the role, having served as the Australian Human Rights Commissioner and as a policy director at the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA). He holds a bachelor of arts and a master of diplomacy and trade from Monash University.
During his previous parliamentary terms, he chaired the House of Representatives standing committee on economics, where he led inquiries into the banking sector and refundable tax credits.
Senator Dean Smith will serve as shadow assistant minister to the shadow treasurer and shadow assistant minister for the cost of living.
Shadow financial services minister
Meanwhile, Conaghan – who had resigned from his position last month following the split in the Coalition surrounding the government’s hate speech legislation – is back leading the Coalition’s financial services agenda once again.
He had been appointed to the position last year, taking over from Luke Howarth MP.
In the 47th Parliament of Australia, Conaghan was the shadow assistant minister for social services and shadow assistant minister for the prevention of family violence.
Senator Chandler has been elevated to shadow minister for finance, taking over the role from Senator James Paterson (who is now in charge of the defence policies for the Coalition).
A senator for Tasmania since 2019, Chandler previously served as the shadow assistant minister for foreign affairs. Before entering politics, she worked in the risk transformation and advisory practice at Deloitte. She holds a bachelor of arts and a bachelor of laws from the University of Tasmania.
In her new capacity, Senator Chandler will be responsible for scrutinising government spending and fiscal management, drawing on her professional background in corporate governance and risk.
New shadow assistant treasurer and shadow minister for financial services
The Coalition also revealed that Bragg will take on an expanded role as shadow minister for housing and homelessness and shadow minister for financial services.
Senator Bragg has been a vocal advocate for home ownership reform and superannuation flexibility. Prior to his Senate career, he was a director at the Financial Services Council and worked as an accountant at Ernst & Young.
He is the author of several books on Australian public policy and has chaired the select committee on Australia as a technology and financial centre. His appointment signals a strategic focus by the Taylor opposition on the intersection of housing affordability and financial deregulation.
Announcing the new shadow ministry, Taylor said it was a “fresh beginning” for the Coalition: “This is a team built to do two things. First, prosecute Labor’s failures – the worst government in our nation’s history. Second, ensure the Coalition is ready to govern and change Australia for the better.
“Today marks a fresh beginning: an opportunity to put the past behind us and to remember that our historic strength has always come through unity. This is a team with one purpose: to restore Australians’ standard of living and protect our way of life. Because Australia is worth fighting for.”
Noting the finance appointments, he said: “Tim Wilson, as Shadow Treasurer, will lead our push for responsible spending, lower taxes and lower inflation. He’s a proven fighter against Labor’s higher taxes that are making Australians poorer. The Coalition will ferociously fight Labor’s bad taxes – taxes on homes, taxes on superannuation, taxes on our children’s future.
“Senator Claire Chandler will take on Finance, Government Services and the Public Service, and will hold Labor to account for its budget blowouts and skyrocketing debt, which will be passed on to our children and grandchildren to pay back.
“Simon Kennedy, who is one of our strongest policy advocates, will become Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Assistant Minister for Finance.
“The Nationals members of the Shadow Ministry will continue in their previous roles. For clarity, all Nationals Shadow Ministers have been reappointed from today.
“I thank the outgoing members of the shadow ministry for their tireless service to our country. We’re fortunate to have real depth of talent in our party room, and I’m committed to drawing on all of it.”
Full shadow ministry appointments
Shadow cabinet & senior ministry
-
Taylor: Leader of the Opposition
-
Senator Jane Hume: Deputy leader of the opposition; employment and industrial relations; productivity and deregulation
-
Wilson: Shadow treasurer
-
Senator Chandler: Finance; government services; the public service
-
Andrew Hastie MP: Deputy leader in the House; industry and sovereign capability
-
Senator Michaelia Cash: Shadow attorney-general; Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
-
Senator James Paterson: Shadow minister for defence
-
Ted O’Brien MP: Shadow minister for foreign affairs
-
Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price: Small business; skills and training
-
Senator Bragg: Housing and homelessness; environment
-
Dan Tehan MP: Energy and emissions reduction; manager of opposition business in the House
-
Senator Jonno Duniam: Home affairs and immigration
-
Melissa McIntosh MP: Families and social services; NDIS; women
-
Senator Anne Ruston: Health and aged care; deputy leader of the opposition in the Senate
-
Julian Leeser MP: Education; Indigenous Australians
-
Senator Sarah Henderson: Communications and digital safety
-
Phil Thompson MP: Defence industry; defence personnel (elevated to cabinet)
-
Senator James McGrath: Special minister of state; urban infrastructure and cities; Brisbane 2032,
Outer ministry & assistant ministers
-
Tony Pasin MP: Scrutiny of government waste and accountability
-
Aaron Violi MP: Digital economy; cyber security; science, technology and innovation
-
Angie Bell MP: Arts; sport; youth
-
Senator Dean Smith: Assistant to the shadow treasurer; cost of living
-
Simon Kennedy MP: Assistant to the Leader of the Opposition; assistant minister for finance
-
Zoe McKenzie MP: Shadow cabinet secretary; assistant minister for employment and industrial relations
-
Senator Dave Sharma: Assistant minister for international development and the Indo-Pacific; assistant minister for citizenship and multicultural affairs
-
Garth Hamilton MP: Assistant minister for energy security and affordability
-
Senator Matt O’Sullivan: Choice in childcare and early childhood
-
Henry Pike MP: Assistant minister for the NDIS and disabilities; assistant minister for mental health
-
Ben Small: Assistant shadow special minister of state; assistant minister for infrastructure
-
Cameron Caldwell MP: Assistant minister for housing; chief opposition whip
-
Senator Kerrynne Liddle: Assistant minister for health and aged care,
