New PM appoints Henderson to ministry

CORANGAMITE federal member Sarah Henderson has emerged as one of the winners of last week’s Liberal leadership spill, with new Prime Minister Scott Morrison appointing her Assistant Minister for Social Services, Housing and Disability Services.

The change of leadership followed a week of crisis for the Liberals, with two separate party room votes for who should lead the party (and thus be Prime Minister).

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull won the first vote 48-35 ahead of then-Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton on Tuesday.

Mr Dutton resigned from cabinet and called for another spill two days later, but Mr Turnbull said he would not do so until he had seen a petition with a majority (43) of MPs’ signatures.

After receiving the petition on Friday, Mr Turnbull held the meeting, where he lost a motion to spill the leadership 45 votes to 40 and subsequently said he would not be a candidate (as he declared earlier).

At the election, then-Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was knocked out in the first round, and Mr Morrison defeated Mr Dutton 45 votes to 40. Josh Frydenberg was elected deputy Liberal leader, replacing Ms Bishop.

In a statement issued afterwards, Ms Henderson said she did not support the spill motion and voted for Mr Morrison in the final ballot (but did not reveal how she voted in the first round), and that she also supported Mr Frydenberg.

“Notwithstanding, it should not have come to this. I am incredibly sad that Malcolm Turnbull is no longer our Prime Minister. I am also disheartened about the manner in which he was removed.

“Australians expect strong, stable government. They are sick to death of the revolving chair of Prime Ministers. I wish to apologise to Corangamite residents for these unedifying and disappointing events.”

Last week, Ms Henderson revealed that Mr Dutton’s supporters offered her a ministry in exchange for her support but she refused, saying it would be an “act of treachery”.

Ms Henderson also denied in a radio interview this week that her elevation to the ministry was a reward for her loyalty to Mr Turnbull. “I don’t know whether it’s such a reward… I have worked very hard for the past five years.”