Add Category
Assistant Education Minister Sussan Ley is tipped to be raised to cabinet. Source: News Corp Australia
DEFENCE Minister David Johnston, who has complained he would not trust the government’s shipbuilder ASC to construct “a canoe’’, is reportedly likely to be replaced in the portfolio in a cabinet reshuffle to be announced today by Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
Senator Johnston could be replaced by Immigration Minister Scott Morrison but senior government sources had cautioned the decision to move Senator Johnston was not a done deal, says a report in today’s The Sunday Telegraph.
REPORT: More women in cabinet reshuffle
Mr Abbott would raise Assistant Education Minister Sussan Ley, a junior minister, to cabinet level in the reshuffle, the report says.
Ms Ley would become only the second woman in cabinet, joining Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.
The Prime Minister is also expected to elevate more women to the junior ministry and parliamentary secretary positions, including Victorian backbencher Kelly O’Dwyer, the report says.
The new assistant treasurer would be, as speculated, Josh Frydenberg, replacing Arthur Sinodinos, who stood aside earlier this year amid an ICAC investigation of Liberal Party dealings in NSW.
The Prime Minister’s office meanwhile confirmed yesterday that Mr Abbott had met a terminally ill cancer patient and Dying With Dignity campaigner, Peter Short, according to the report.
Mr Short said yesterday that Mr Abbott had privately agreed to offer a conscience vote on euthanasia but this has not been confirmed.