Coalition Leader Peter Dutton has unveiled his new shadow ministry, including the creation of a new portfolio dedicated to “government efficiency”.
The new portfolio follows the establishment of a newcalled the ‘Department of Government Efficiency’, led by tech billionaire Elon Musk.
Thewas triggered by the retirements of two senior Liberal MPs ahead of this year’s federal election.
Cabinet
When a party forms government, some of its MPs and Senators become Cabinet Ministers — a team of senior advisers to the Prime Minister, responsible for policy areas called portfolios.
Ministers lead the introduction of legislation related to their portfolios, and sit on the front bench of the houses of Parliament.
The party in Opposition forms a shadow Cabinet, who comment on Government proposals and suggest alternatives.
Reshuffle
In November, Shadow Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham announced he would leave politics at the next election. Birmingham has held frontbench positions in the Coalition for a decade.
Paul Fletcher, another senior Liberal MP, announced in December he would not recontest the next election.
Fletcher was the Manager of Opposition Business, a key role in the House of Representatives, and held the shadow ministries of arts and science.
Government Efficiency
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Over the weekend, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton announced the frontbench team he plans to take to the next election, due to be held by 17 May.
Sydney-based MP David Coleman will now take on the foreign affairs portfolio, and Tasmanian Senator Claire Chandler will take on Fletcher’s shadow ministries.
The reshuffle included the creation of a new shadow portfolio for— ‘Government Efficiency’. Price is already the Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians.
In a statement, Coalition leader Peter Dutton said the government efficiency portfolio would be dedicated to achieving “a more efficient use of taxpayers’ money”.
He described the Labor Government’s spending as “wasteful” and “out of control”.
Price said the current government’s spending had contributed to high inflation (rising prices) and the broader cost of living crisis.
DOGE link?
Price’s new portfolio echoes the newly created U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
President Donald Trump appointed X owner Elon Musk to lead DOGE, which is tasked with reducing federal spending. Its name is believed to be a reference to a cryptocurrency called ‘dogecoin’, itself a reference to an old meme.
Dutton denied the new shadow portfolio was inspired by DOGE, however.
“People don’t want to work their guts out and find that the tax they’re paying is being wasted,” he said.
