Local Liberals rewarded in Taylor’s first shadow cabinet

LIBERAL MPs in the Geelong region have received promotions in new Opposition Leader Angus Taylor’s first shadow cabinet, announced today (Tuesday, February 17).

Victorian Senator Sarah Henderson has been appointed Shadow Minister for Communications and Digital Safety, while Wannon federal member Dan Tehan has retained the energy portfolio and will also now be Manager of Opposition Business in the lower house.

It is a return to cabinet for Senator Henderson, who was previously shadow education minister and shadow communications minister under Peter Dutton but was dumped by now-deposed opposition leader Sussan Ley.

Tehan was shadow minister for immigration and citizenship in Peter Dutton’s opposition, and was briefly acting shadow minister for resources during Ley’s nine-month leadership.

Elsewhere in the cabinet, Taylor has rewarded his conservative factional allies with plum frontbench roles while punting moderates to the back.

Mr Taylor unveiled his new-look shadow cabinet in Sydney after toppling the Liberal party‘s first female leader Sussan Ley by 34 votes to 17 in a partyroom ballot on Friday last week.

Deputy leader Jane Hume, who was entitled to pick her portfolio, will become the spokeswoman for employment and industrial relations, while moderate Tim Wilson will be made Shadow Treasurer.

It was widely expected Mr Taylor would return conservatives Andrew Hastie, Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Senator Henderson to frontbench positions.

Mr Hastie has been given the industry portfolio, while Senator Nampijinpia Price has taken over small business.

Senator James Paterson has shifted from finance to defence, the portfolio held by Taylor prior to him snaring the top job, while Senator Jonathon Duniam has retained home affairs and immigration.

Senator Andrew Bragg has remained the housing and homelessness spokesperson.

Ted O’Brien has been given foreign affairs portfolio after previously being deputy Liberal leader under Ley.

The promotions came at the expense of Alex Hawke, Andrew Wallace, Scott Buchholz and Paul Scarr, who lost their shadow ministries and were key backers of Ley.

– WITH AAP