Anthony Albanese's inner sanctum: What you need to know about the prime minister's cabinet picks

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's cabinet has been sworn in. Here's what you need to know.

FEDERAL MINISTERS SWEARING IN

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his cabinet after the swearing-in ceremony at Government House in Canberra, on Wednesday, 1 June, 2022. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

Thirty members of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's new ministry have been officially sworn in by Governor-General David Hurley at Government House in Canberra.

Twenty-three of them will make up cabinet — the top decision-making body comprised of ministers responsible for major government departments.

So, who are they?

Anthony Albanese's first cabinet

Anthony Albanese

A man pointing.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
Position: Prime minister
Age: 59
Seat: Grayndler, NSW
Faction: Left
Qualifications: Bachelor of Economics
Entered parliament: 1996

Anthony Albanese became prime minister after Labor won the 21 May federal election. He had been Opposition leader since 2019.
Mr Albanese was deputy prime minister under Kevin Rudd following the 2013 leadership spill that saw him replace Julia Gillard.
He also held the portfolios of regional development and local government, and infrastructure and transport during Labor's time in power from 2007 to 2013.
Mr Albanese sits in the House of Representatives.

Richard Marles

A man listening.
Deputy prime minister and defence minister, Richard Marles. Source: AAP / James Ross
Position: Deputy prime minister, Minister for defence
Seat: Corio, Victoria
Age: 54
Faction: Right
Qualifications: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Laws
Entered parliament: 2007

Richard Marles has been Labor's deputy leader since 2019.
In the last six years the party was in opposition, he was Labor's spokesman for several issues ranging from immigration and border protection to science.
Before entering parliament, he held positions with the Australian Council of Trade Unions, the Transport Workers' Union, and was a solicitor from 1993 to 1994.
Mr Marles sits in the House of Representatives.

Penny Wong

A woman sitting on a couch.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
Position: Minister for foreign affairs
Seat: Senator for South Australia
Age: 53
Faction: Left
Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts (Jurisprudence), Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice
Entered parliament: 2002

Penny Wong has been Labor's foreign affairs spokeswoman since 2016.
She was minister for climate change, and minister for finance and deregulation during Labor's time in government from 2007 to 2013.
Before her parliamentary career, she worked as an industrial officer, a barrister and solicitor and a legal officer.
She was also a senior policy adviser to Kim Yeadon — former NSW minister for land and conservation — from 1995 to 1996.
Ms Wong sits in the Senate.

Jim Chalmers

A man listening.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas.
Position: Treasurer
Seat: Rankin, Queensland
Age: 44
Faction: Right
Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Commerce, PhD in political science and international relations

Entered parliament: 2013

Jim Chalmers most recently was Labor's treasury spokesman.
Before Mr Chalmers was elected, he was the executive director of the Chifley Research Centre — the Labor Party's official think tank.
He has an extensive history working in government.
Mr Chalmers sits in the House of Representatives.

Katy Gallagher

A woman smiling as she shakes hands with a man.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher with Australian Governor-General David Hurley during the swearing-in ceremony at Government House in Canberra. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
Position: Minister for finance, inister for the public service, Minister for women
Seat: Senator for the ACT
Age: 52
Faction: Left
Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts
Entered parliament: 2015

Katy Gallagher most recently was Labor's finance, and public service spokeswoman.
Ms Gallagher entered parliament in 2015 but was disqualified under section 44 of the constitution for failing to renounce her British citizenship in time for the 2016 federal election. She returned to parliament at the 2019 federal election.
She was a member of the ACT's legislative assembly for more than a decade before she resigned in 2014 to run for federal politics. She spent her final three years as the territory's chief minister.
Ms Gallagher sits in the Senate.

Don Farrell

A man speaking.
Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
Position: Minister for trade and tourism, Special minister of state
Seat: Senator for South Australia
Age: 67
Faction: Right
Qualifications: Bachelor of Laws
Entered parliament: 2008

Don Farrell was the minister for sport during the Labor government's final months before it lost the 2013 election.
He entered parliament in 2008, was defeated in the 2013 election, and was again elected to the senate in 2016.
Mr Farrell held positions with retail union the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees' Association (SDA) for more than three decades before his political career.
He sits in the Senate.

Tony Burke

A man listening.
Employment Minister Tony Burke. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
Position: Minister for employment and workplace relations, Minister for arts
Seat: Watson, NSW
Age: 52
Faction: Right
Qualifications: Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Arts
Entered parliament: 2004

Mr Burke most recently was Labor's arts and industrial relations spokesman.
He held the portfolios of agriculture, fisheries and forestry; sustainability, environment, water, populations and communities; and immigration, multicultural affairs and citizenship during Labor's time in power from 2007 to 2013.
Mr Burke has also worked as a union organiser for the SDA, an electorate officer, and was briefly a member of the NSW legislative council before he ran for federal parliament at the 2004 election.
He sits in the House of Representatives.

Mark Butler

A man shaking hands with another man.
Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler with Australian Governor-General David Hurley during the swearing-in ceremony at Government House in Canberra. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
Position: Minister for health and aged care
Seat: Hindmarsh, South Australia
Age: 51
Faction: Left
Qualifications: Bachelor of Laws, Master of International Relations, Bachelor of Arts (Jurisprudence)
Entered parliament: 2007

Mark Butler was Labor's spokesman for health and ageing before the party won the 2022 federal election.
Mr Butler picked up a ministerial position — mental health and ageing — three years into his parliamentary career. He also held the portfolios of social inclusion, environment and water, and climate change before Labor lost the 2013 federal election.
He was a union official before entering parliament.
Mr Butler sits in the House of Representatives.

Chris Bowen

A man speaking.
Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen. Source: AAP / Nikki Short
Position: Minister for climate change and energy
Seat: McMahon, NSW
Age: 49
Faction: Right
Qualifications: Bachelor of Economics, Master of International Relations, Diploma in Modern Languages (Bahasa Indonesia)
Entered parliament: 2004

Chris Bowen was most recently Labor's climate and energy spokesman.
He held the positions of assistant treasurer, minister for financial services, minister for immigration and citizenship, minister for small business, and treasurer when Labor was in government from 2007 to 2013.
Mr Bowen was a councillor at Fairfield City Council in Sydney from 1995 to 2004, and was mayor from 1998 to 1999.
From the mid-1990s to early 2000s, he also worked for former federal Labor MP Janice Crosio, former NSW state MP Carl Scully, and the Finance Sector Union.
Mr Bowen sits in the House of Representatives.

Tanya Plibersek

A woman speaking.
Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
Position: Minister for environment and water
Seat: Sydney, NSW
Age: 52
Faction: Left
Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts (Communications) (Honours), Master of Politics and Public Policy
Entered parliament: 1998

Tanya Plibersek was most recently Labor's spokeswoman for education, and women.
Kevin Rudd appointed her the minister for the status of women when he was elected as prime minister in 2007. She went on to hold the portfolios of housing, social inclusion, human services, and health and medical research before Labor's 2013 election loss.
She was then the party's deputy leader until 2019.
Ms Plibersek sits in the House of Representatives.

Catherine King

A woman smiling while shaking hands with a man
Infrastructure Minister Catherine King with Australian Governor-General David Hurley during the swearing-in ceremony at Government House in Canberra. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
Position: Minister for infrastructure, transport, regional development and local government
Seat: Ballarat, Victoria
Age: 55
Faction: Left
Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts (Social Works), Master of Arts (Public Policy)
Entered parliament: 2001

Catherine King was first appointed to a ministerial position — road safety — in 2013 during the final months of the Labor government.
She finished as minister for regional Australia, local government and territories when the party lost the election that year.
Ms King was a social worker, and held various positions in the public and private sectors before entering parliament.
She sits in the House of Representatives.

Linda Burney

A woman holding a cloak.
Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
Position: Minister for Indigenous Australians
Seat: Barton, NSW
Age: 65
Faction: Left
Qualifications: Diploma of Teaching
Entered parliament: 2016

Linda Burney most recently was Labor's Indigenous Australians, and families and social services spokeswoman.
She was previously a NSW state Labor MP, and became the first Aboriginal person to serve in the NSW parliament when she was elected in 2003.
Ms Burney also became the first Aboriginal woman to serve in the federal House of Representatives when she was elected in 2016.
She was first a teacher, and also worked for the NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs before entering politics.
Ms Burney sits in the House of Representatives.

Amanda Rishworth

A woman speaking,
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth. Source: AAP / Bianca De Marchi
Position: Minister for social services
Seat: Kingston, South Australia
Age: 43
Faction: Right
Qualifications: Bachelor of Psychology, Master of Psychology (Clinical)
Entered parliament: 2007

Amanda Rishworth's was Labor's early childhood education, and youth spokeswoman during Labor's last three years in opposition.
Ms Rishworth held a number of positions prior to entering politics, including as a research assistant, a union representative, and a psychologist.
She sits in the House of Representatives.

Bill Shorten

A man listening.
NDIS Minister Bill Shorten. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
Position: Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Minister for government services
Seat: Maribyrnong, Victoria
Age: 55
Faction: Right
Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws, Master of Business Administration
Entered parliament: 2007

Bill Shorten became Labor leader after the party's 2013 election loss. He held this position until 2019 and led the party to two electoral defeats.
He was first appointed to a ministerial position in 2010 when he was handed the financial services portfolio. He was also minister for workplace relations, and for education.
Mr Shorten was the director of superannuation fund Australian Super from 1998 to 2007, and was the Australian Workers' Union's national secretary from 2001 to 2007.
He sits in the House of Representatives.

Mark Dreyfus

A man speaking.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
Position: Attorney-general, Cabinet secretary
Seat: Isaacs, Western Australia
Age: 65
Faction: Right
Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws
Entered parliament: 2007

Mark Dreyfus most recently was Labor's spokesman for legal affairs.
Mr Dreyfus was previously attorney-general during the final months of the party's time in office in 2013. He was also minister for the public service and integrity, and special minister of state.
He was a barrister for much of his pre-political life.
Mr Dreyfus sits in the House of Representatives.

Brendan O'Connor

A man speaking.
Skills and Training Minister Brendan O'Connor. Source: AAP / George Fragopoulos
Position: Minister for skills and training
Seat: Gorton, Victoria
Age: 60
Faction: Left
Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws, Harvard Trade Union Program diploma
Entered parliament: 2001

Brendan O'Connor most recently was Labor's defence spokesman.
He was first elevated to a ministerial position when he was given the employment participation portfolio after the party won the 2007 election. He was also minister for home affairs, minister for human services, minister for housing, minister for small business, minister for immigration and citizenship, and minister for employment before Labor's 2013 defeat at the polls.
Mr O'Connor worked for unions before entering parliament.
He sits in the House of Representatives.

Jason Clare

A man pointing.
Education Minister Jason Clare. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
Position: Minister for Education
Seat: Blaxland, NSW
Age: 50
Faction: Right
Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Bachelor of Laws
Entered parliament: 2007

Jason Clare most recently was Labor's spokesman for regional services, and housing and homelessness.
He was appointed minister for defence materiel after Labor formed government in 2010. He also held the justice, and home affairs portfolios before the party lost the 2013 election.
Mr Clare worked in government before entering federal parliament, most notably as a senior policy adviser to NSW Labor premier Bob Carr from 1999 to 2003.
He was also an executive at toll road company Transurban for several years.
Mr Clare sits in the House of Representatives.


Julie Collins

A woman speaking.
Small Business Minister Julie Collins. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
Position: Minister for housing, Minister for homelessness, Minister for small business
Seat: Franklin, Tasmania
Age: 50
Faction: Left
Qualifications: Certificate 4 in Business Administration
Entered parliament: 2007

Julie Collins most recently was Labor's agriculture spokeswoman.
Four years after she was elected, Ms Collins was appointed minister for the status of women, and minister for community services. She held these portfolios until Labor lost at the 2013 poll.
Ms Collins worked in government before entering the federal parliament.
She sits in the House of Representatives.


Michelle Rowland

A woman speaking.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
Position: Minister for communications
Seat: Greenway, NSW
Age: 50
Faction: Right
Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Bachelor of Laws, Masters of Laws
Entered parliament: 2010

Michelle Rowland most recently was Labor's communications spokeswoman.
Ms Rowland was a councillor at Blacktown City Council in Sydney from 2004 to 2008, and was deputy mayor for her final year.
She was also the chair of Screen NSW, worked as a lawyer, and held director and non-executive director positions prior to entering federal politics.
Ms Rowland sits in the House of Representatives.

Madeleine King

A woman standing with her arms folded.
Resources Minister Madeleine King. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
Position: Minister for resources, Minister for Northern Australia
Seat: Brand, Western Australia
Age: 49
Faction: Right
Qualifications: Bachelor of Laws
Entered parliament: 2016

Madeleine King most recently was Labor spokeswoman for resources, and for trade.
Immediately before entering federal parliament, she worked at the think tank Perth USAsia Centre. Among other positions, she worked as a solicitor and has been admitted as a solicitor and barrister to the Supreme Court of Western Australia, and as a solicitor to the High Court of Australia.
Ms King sits in the House of Representatives.

Murray Watt

A man speaking.
Agriculture Minister Murray Watt. Source: AAP / Aaron Bunch
Position: Minister for agriculture, fisheries and forestry, Minister for emergency management
Seat: Senator for Queensland
Age: 49
Faction: Left
Qualifications: Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Laws
Entered parliament: 2016

Murray Watt most recently was Labor's spokesman for Northern Australia, Queensland resources, and disaster and emergency management.
Mr Watt was previously involved in Queensland state politics. He was elected in 2009 but lost the seat of Everton in 2012.
Outside of politics, he was worked in government, and in law.
He sits in the House of Representatives.

Ed Husic

A man shaking hands with another man.
Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
Position: Minister for industry and science
Seat: Chifley, NSW
Age: 52
Faction: Right
Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts (Applied Communications)
Entered parliament: 2010

Ed Husic most recently was Labor's industry and innovation spokesman.
Mr Husic, along with Anne Aly, became Australia's first two Muslim federal ministers when they were sworn in on Wednesday.
He was national president of the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union of Australia before he was elected in 2010. He had also held positions in the public and private sectors.
Mr Husic sits in the House of Representatives.

Clare O'Neil

A woman speaking while standing at a microphone.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil. Source: AAP / Darren England
Position: Minister for home affairs, Minister for cyber security
Seat: Hotham, Victoria
Age: 41
Faction: Right
Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Master of Public Policy
Entered parliament: 2013

Clare O'Neil most recently was Labor's spokeswoman for senior Australians and aged care services.
Ms O'Neil has previously worked for local government. She was a councillor at the City of Greater Dandenong in Melbourne from 2003 to 2004, and was mayor in 2004.
She briefly served as a policy adviser to the federal treasurer in 2007. She has also worked at a management consulting firm, and for the Marngarr Aboriginal Resource Centre.
Ms O'Neil sits in the House of Representatives.

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13 min read
Published 1 June 2022 5:18pm
By David Aidone
Source: SBS News


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