• The Australian
• September 22, 2015 1:21PM
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Border Protection Minister Peter Dutton.

Malcolm Turnbull been accused of pursuing “vendettas and revenge” by stripping Border Protection Minister Peter Dutton of his position on the national security committee of cabinet.

Mr Dutton, who held a permanent seat on the peak national security committee under Tony Abbott, confirmed today that he would now only attend meetings when they directly relate to his portfolio responsibilities.

“I’m co-opted into the national security committee when there is a border security issue,” Mr Dutton told Adelaide radio station 5AA.

Bill Shorten said the decision to exclude Mr Dutton from regular meetings was “bewildering”, notwithstanding Mr Dutton’s “chequered career”.

“I would have thought that if you’re fair dinkum about national security then you would have your representative in border security sitting regularly, permanently, on the national security committee of cabinet,” the Opposition Leader said.

“It seems to me that Malcolm Turnbull is punishing Peter Dutton for … voting for Tony Abbott.

“What we don’t need when we have got a matter as important as national security, is vendettas and revenge between Liberal ministers. That is not good for national security.”

The national security committee comprises the Prime Minister, Treasurer Scott Morrison, Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, Defence Minister Marise Payne and Attorney-General George Brandis.

Mr Turnbull announced the changed complexion of the national security committee when he unveiled his new ministry on Sunday.

“The security interests of the Australian Government are very clearly and well understood by all of the minister and indeed all of the senior officials, whether they are uniformed or not,” Mr Turnbull said.

“Australia’s strategic interests; government’s come and go, ministers come and go, our strategic interests remain very consistent.”

Mr Turnbull’s national security committee is a mirror image of that which operated during the first, second and fourth terms of the Howard government.