Ministerial Changes - Morrison Ministry - 28 August 2018

Legislation au C2018G00683 In force Gazette

Legislation content

 

 

Government House

Canberra   ACT   2600

 

 

28 August 2018

His Excellency the Governor-General directs it to be notified, for general information, that:

a)     he has revoked the appointments of:

 

  • The Honourable Michael McCormack MP as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
  • The Honourable Julie Bishop MP as Minister for Foreign Affairs
  • Senator the Honourable Mathias Cormann as Minister For Finance and Special Minister of State
  • The Honourable Christopher Pyne MP as Minister for Defence Industry
  • Senator the Honourable Mitch Fifield as Minister for Communications and Minister for the Arts
  • Senator the Honourable Bridget McKenzie as Minister for Rural Health, Minister for Sport and Minister for Regional Communications
  • Senator the Honourable Marise Payne as Minister for Defence
  • Senator the Honourable Simon Birmingham as Minister for Education and Training
  • The Honourable Greg Hunt MP as Minister for Health
  • Senator the Honourable Michaelia Cash as Minister for Jobs and Innovation
  • The Honourable Josh Frydenberg as Minister for the Environment and Energy
  • The Honourable Kelly O’Dwyer MP as Minister for Revenue and Financial Services and Minister For Women
  • The Honourable Steven Ciobo MP as Minister For Trade, Tourism and Investment
  • The Honourable Michael Keenan MP as Minister for Human Services
  • The Honourable Dan Tehan MP as Minister for Social Services
  • The Honourable Dr John McVeigh MP as Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government
  • The Honourable Paul Fletcher MP as Minister For Urban Infrastructure and Cities
  • Senator the Honourable Concetta Fierravanti-Wells as Minister for International Development and the Pacific
  • The Honourable Alan Tudge MP as Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs
  • The Honourable Ken Wyatt AM MP as Minister for Aged Care and Minister for Indigenous Health
  • The Honourable Angus Taylor MP as Minister for Law Enforcement and Cybersecurity
  • The Honourable Craig Laundy MP as Minister for Small and Family Business, the Workplace and Deregulation
  • The Honourable Karen Andrews MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education and Training
  • The Honourable Alex Hawke MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs
  • Senator the Honourable Anne Ruston as Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources
  • Senator the Honourable James McGrath as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
  • The Honourable Jane Prentice MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Services for Disability Services
  • The Honourable Keith Pitt MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
  • Senator the Honourable Zed Seselja as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Jobs and Innovation
  • The Honourable Dr David Gillespie MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Services
  • The Honourable Michael Sukkar MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer
  • The Honourable Melissa Price MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment and Energy
  • The Honourable David Coleman MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance

 

b)     he has sworn in as an Executive Councillor:

 

  • Mr Steve Irons MP
  • Mr Andrew Broad MP
  • Mr Scott Buchholz MP
  • Senator David Fawcett
  • Senator Linda Reynolds CSC
  • Ms Sarah Henderson MP
  • Ms Michelle Landry MP

 

c)     he has made the following appointments:

 

  • The Honourable Michael McCormack MP as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
  • Senator the Honourable Mathias Cormann as Minister for Finance and the Public Service
  • The Honourable Christopher Pyne MP as Minister for Defence
  • Senator the Honourable Bridget McKenzie as Minister for Regional Services, Sport, Local Government and Decentralisation
  • Senator the Honourable Simon Birmingham as Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment
  • Senator the Honourable Mitch Fifield as Minister for Communications and the Arts
  • Senator the Honourable Marise Payne as Minister for Foreign Affairs
  • The Honourable Kelly O'Dwyer MP as Minister for Jobs and Industrial Relations and Minister for Women
  • The Honourable Dan Tehan MP as Minister for Education
  • The Honourable Greg Hunt MP as Minister for Health
  • The Honourable Paul Fletcher MP as Minister for Families and Social Services
  • The Honourable Steven Ciobo MP as Minister for Defence Industry
  • Senator the Honourable Michaelia Cash as Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education
  • The Honourable Melissa Price MP as Minister for the Environment
  • The Honourable Karen Andrews MP as Minister for Industry, Science and Technology
  • The Honourable Angus Taylor MP as Minister for Energy
  • The Honourable Michael Keenan MP as Minister for Human Services and Digital Transformation
  • The Honourable Alan Tudge MP as Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population
  • The Honourable Ken Wyatt AM MP as Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care and Minister for Indigenous Health
  • The Honourable Stuart Robert MP as Assistant Treasurer
  • The Honourable Alex Hawke MP as Special Minister of State
  • The Honourable David Coleman MP as Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs
  • The Honourable Sussan Ley MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
  • Senator the Honourable Richard Colbeck as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources
  • Senator the Honourable Anne Ruston as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs
  • Senator the Honourable Zed Seselja as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and the Public Service
  • Senator the Honourable David Fawcett as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence
  • The Honourable Stephen Irons MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
  • The Honourable Andrew Broad MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
  • Senator the Honourable Linda Reynolds CSC as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs
  • The Honourable Scott Buchholz MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
  • The Honourable Sarah Henderson MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Families and Social Services
  • The Honourable Michelle Landry MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Families and Social Services

 

d)     he has also been pleased to appoint Senator the Honourable Mathias Cormann to be Vice President of the Executive Council.

 

By His Excellency’s Command

Paul Singer MVO

Acting Official Secretary to the Governor-General

 

Overview

The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900, as amended by the Acts of the Commonwealth Parliament, governs the legislative framework within Australia. The Australian Parliament enacts legislation to address various issues and gaps within the nation. In 2018, the Australian Parliament enacted the Gazette, C2018G00683, to revise the ministerial appointments within the federal government. This was achieved by revoking previous appointments and subsequently making new appointments to various ministerial positions. The objective of this Gazette was to ensure that the executive branch of the government was adequately staffed and structured to meet the policy objectives and governance needs of the country. The Governor-General, acting on behalf of the Queen, directed the notification of these changes for general information, ensuring transparency and accountability in the government's operations.

Scope and Application

The Act concerns the revocation and subsequent appointments of executive positions within the Commonwealth Government of Australia. The appointments and revocations are made by His Excellency the Governor-General, affecting the Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries who are integral to the administration of various governmental departments and portfolios. This Act applies directly to the individuals named within the text, who are members of the Australian Parliament, and extends to their roles and responsibilities within the government. The geographic and jurisdictional reach of this Act is national, as it pertains to the executive branch of the Commonwealth Government, and its implications are felt across all sectors and industries governed by the ministers appointed. There are no stated exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds in this Act, as it is concerned solely with the personnel changes within the executive council. The Act may be further defined or extended through subordinate instruments, such as regulations or orders, which would specify the operational aspects of the new ministerial appointments and their respective portfolios.

Key Provisions

The key provisions of the Gazetted instrument revolve around the revocation of previous ministerial appointments and the swearing in of new ones (section a and section b). This instrument is a formal notification that the Governor-General has exercised his constitutional power to alter the composition of the Executive Council, which advises the Governor-General on the exercise of certain executive powers. In this case, the instrument revokes the appointments of several ministers and parliamentary secretaries, and appoints new ones in their place. The instrument also appoints several individuals as Executive Councillors (section c and section d). The swearing in of new members into the Executive Council signifies their formal acceptance of office and their readiness to undertake the responsibilities and duties associated with their respective ministerial portfolios. The obligations and requirements imposed by this Act primarily involve the fulfilment of the duties and responsibilities associated with the ministerial roles. Each appointed minister is expected to discharge their duties in accordance with the Constitution and any relevant laws, ensuring effective governance and administration of the country. The ministers are required to act in the best interests of the public, adhering to the principles of good governance, transparency, and accountability. They must also work collaboratively with other ministers and government officials to implement policies, allocate resources, and address the needs and concerns of the community. Additionally, the ministers are expected to maintain open lines of communication with the public, respond to inquiries, and provide accurate and timely information on government initiatives and decisions. The Gazetted instrument does not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach. However, it is important to note that any breach of the duties and responsibilities associated with ministerial roles could potentially lead to legal and political repercussions. In the event of misconduct, misuse of power, or failure to fulfil the duties of a minister, there may be consequences such as impeachment, removal from office, or legal proceedings. The severity of these consequences would depend on the nature and extent of the breach, as well as the relevant laws and constitutional provisions in place. It is also worth noting that the Governor-General, as the head of the Executive Council, has the authority to revoke appointments and remove individuals from office if they are deemed unfit or unable to fulfil their duties effectively.

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Area of Law
Government Administration
Instrument
Gazette Notice
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Repeal & Amendment
Transitional Provisions

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.