For the first time in Australian history federal cabinet has gender parity.
The milestone was reached on Monday when three women were sworn in as ministers to take on roles at the NDIS, following the retirement of Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and former Labor party leader Bill Shorten.
Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth adds NDIS minister to her portfolio while Minister for Finance Katy Gallagher adopts Shorten’s other role as Minister for Government Services.
Minister for Early Childhood Education Anne Aly has become the junior minister for the NDIS.
Amanda Rishworth, Katy Gallagher, and Anne Aly (aph.gov.au)
As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese noted at the swearing-in ceremony at Government House in Canberra: “It’s the first time in Australian history, since federation, that we’ve had equal representation in the cabinet of the government of Australia.”
In response to the appointments, the Australian Greens called the selections “a missed opportunity” to implement a recommendation of the disability royal commission, which proposed a ministerial role be created to promote disability inclusion.
“A minister for disability inclusion would be responsible for improving the lives of all disabled Australians – not just those who are eligible for the NDIS. A minister for disability inclusion would enable us to have the cross-government action we need to improve the lives of disabled people across all areas of life – like education, healthcare, public transport – just to name a few,” said Senator Jordon Steele-John, Australian Greens spokesperson for disability rights and services.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House of Representatives Milton Dick has formally received letters of resignation from Shorten and Liberal MP Keith Pitt – deputy chair of parliamentary standing committee on public works.
Whilst mindful that a general election is due in a matter of months, the speaker is considering the possibility of holding a by-election and will make an announcement in due course.
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