NSW Senator Arthur Sinodinos, who was expected to become Finance Minister in the new Coalition government, has been named to the outer ministry as Assistant Treasurer today.
The first ministry of Prime Minister elect Tony Abbott was announced today, and will be sworn in on Wednesday by Governor-General Quentin Bryce.
Mr Abbott’s cabinet will include just one woman in Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop, who is also the Deputy Leaders of the Liberal Party.
The incoming prime minister said he was “obviously disappointed” that there were not more women in cabinet but he continued, there were some “very good and talented women knocking on the door”.
Warren Truss, leader of the National Party was named Deputy Prime-Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development.
As expected Joe Hockey was named as Treasurer, whereas Senator Mathias Cormann from Western Australia will be the new Finance Minister.
Amongst others, Scott Morisson was named Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, while former Liberal Party Leader Malcolm Turnball was named as expected Minister for Communication.
The new Abbott cabinet is made up of 19 members, while another 11 MP’s, including Senator Arthur Sinodinos, are members of the outer Ministry. Arthur Sinodinos is the first Greek Australian politician to hold a Liberal ministerial position federally.
Prime Minister elect Tony Abbott also stated today that if Sophie Mirabella was to be re-elected by now in the Victorian federal seat of Indi she was going to be announced as a member of his cabinet.