Anthony Albanese’s reshuffle leads to quick starts for new ministers

New Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt has to get up to speed quickly on reining in the CFMEU, with expectations legislation will be introduced within weeks to appoint an administrator for the embattled union. He’s among a swathe of federal ministers with new roles who have hit the ground running with international meetings and looming legislative fights after joining Anthony Albanese for the first meeting of the new-look cabinet on Monday. The Prime Minister said Senator Watt would be “outstanding” in the role and pledged that the Government would “do what’s needed and what’s necessary” to deal with the CFMEU. “He’s about seven hours into the job, but we’ve already had a meeting with him this afternoon,” Mr Albanese said. Sunday’s reshuffle was precipitated by Linda Burney and Brendan O’Connor announcing their retirements. Tasmanian assistant minister Carol Brown also stepped aside from the frontbench over the weekend for health reasons. Governor-General Sam Mostyn swore those ministers changing jobs into their new roles on Monday morning before a meeting of the full ministry in Canberra. Mr Albanese highlighted the achievement of having two years of stability within his team, saying it was a credit to the work of everyone around the cabinet table. The Prime Minister expects his new-look team will be the one that takes the Government into the election due within 10 months. Those ministers with new roles released statements on Monday saying how pleased they were, laying out their achievements in their previous portfolios and congratulating their replacements. Hours after being sworn into the Home Affairs portfolio, Tony Burke was on a plane to Indonesia to meet his counterpart and jointly lead a meeting on counter-terrorism and transnational security. He highlighted his “deep commitment to modern multicultural Australia” but also his record in a previous, brief stint as immigration minister at the tail end of the last Labor administration. Julie Collins – who formed the live sheep export ban policy as shadow minister – noted that she had “so many incredible farmers” in her Tasmanian electorate. “I am committed to engaging and listening to our rural communities and representing Australia’s farmers in the Albanese Labor Government,” the new Agriculture Minister said. Clare O’Neil, who shifted from Home Affairs into the housing portfolio that will be crucial in the election fight, said the new role gave her a massive opportunity to make a difference in the lives of Australians, as she got into politics. “The problems are complex but the impact on the lives of Australians is very simple: rents too high, rising too fast, and a whole generation of young Australians who feel like home ownership is a pipe dream,” she said. Already advocates within the sector have been in touch to lay out why they want the Government to step up its ambitions on building more public and affordable housing.