Liberal leader Peter Dutton has promoted Northern Territory senator Jacinta Price directly into shadow cabinet,in a shock move that has surprised members of his own front bench team.
South Australian senator Kerrynne Liddle has also been appointed to the outer ministry,a decision that promotes two Indigenous women to Dutton’s front bench ahead of the referendum on the Voice to parliament later this year.
Price takes the portfolio of Indigenous Australians while the role of shadow attorney-general went to West Australian senator Michaelia Cash,who was previously the shadow minister for employment and workplace relations.
The changes,announced on Tuesday morning in Adelaide,have been tightly held and go much further than anticipated by members of Dutton’s front bench team,with six members of the shadow ministry tellingThe Sydney Morning Herald andThe Age on Monday that Price and Liddle would be given more junior positions.
Cyber security shadow minister James Paterson has been promoted to shadow cabinet and takes the home affairs portfolio,a vacancy created byKaren Andrews’ decision to move to the backbench.
Dutton and Price campaigned against the Voice for two days in Alice Springs last week and Price later confirmed she held discussions with Dutton about an expanded role in the campaign against the Voice.
The changes to the opposition leader’s frontbench have been caused by the resignation of former shadow minister for Indigenous Australians and attorney-general Julian Leeser,whoquit over the decision to bindfrontbenchers to a No vote on the Voice.
An MP close to Dutton said there had been numerous discussions about Price being elevated straight into shadow cabinet but cautioned that “while it might look good,you have to be ready”.