We may no longer have a female prime minister but Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s new look ministry now boasts the strongest ever representation of women.
Rudd’s raised the number of women representing in the full ministry from nine to a record eleven.
This follows the promotion of women to the front bench including Victorian senator Jacinta Collins, and MPs Catherine King and Julie Collins.
“This will be a great contribution to the cause of women as well as the cause of good government in Australia,” Rudd said, announcing the reshuffle today.
Deputy leader Anthony Albanese said it’s a sign that Labor has “renewed” itself, declaring the Coalition still consists of a “bunch of people who have been there since 2010”.
The reshuffle follows more than a third of the Cabinet resigning in line with last week’s leadership spill.
Senator Collins will replace Mark Butler in the Mental Health and Ageing portfolio, while Catherine King joins as Minister for Regional Australia, Local Government and Territories.
Julie Collins will serve as Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Community Services and Indigenous Employment and Economic Development, and retain her existing role managing Status of Women.
West Australian MP Melissa Parke will take on International Development, a new portfolio.
Kate Ellis continues as Minister for Early Childhood, Childcare and Youth and Employment Participation.
Senator Penny Wong remains in the finance portfolio — and was last week elected the first woman to be leader in the Senate.
Jenny Macklin holds the Disability Reform and Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs portfolios.
Tanya Plibersek remains Minister for Health.
And while Senator Kate Lundy no longer retains responsibility for sport, she’ll keep a place in the ministry with the Multicultural Affairs portfolio, Innovation and Industry and as the Minister for Assisting the Digital Economy.
Jan McLucas is Minister for Human Services, and Sharon Bird the Minister for Regional Development, Regional Communities and Road Safety,
Let’s see what the addition of more women will do for the bitterly-divided party. A change for the long-term?