Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's new cabinet was sworn-in on Monday with five women ministers including Marise Payne, who became the country’s first female defence minister, a move seen as a significant change in the style and tone from the previous government.
Turnbull, a 60-year-old multimillionaire who holds socially moderate views within the conservative Liberal Party, presented his new team to Governor General Peter Cosgrove at a swearing-in ceremony at the government house in Canberra.
Attorney General George Brandis, the government’s new leader in the Senate, was the first minister to be sworn in. Scott Morrison took oath of the treasurer’s office.
Payne, one of five women in the new cabinet, was sworn in as Australia’s first female defence minister. The previous government had two female cabinet ministers.
Turnbull described his new ministry as the one that reflects a determination to seize the opportunities of the most exciting times in the human history.
Christian Porter took his oath for social services minister while south Australian Simon Birmingham was moved into cabinet for the education portfolio.
Arthur Sinodinos returned to a senior role in government as cabinet secretary Josh Frydenberg swore his oath as resources and energy minister on the Torah.
Turnbull came to power following last week's leadership vote against Tony Abbott.
According to a pressreport, Abbott was not offered a position. “It’s not something that Tony would seek either,” Turnbull told a television channel.
Turnbull said that he understood what it was like to lose the leadership of a party, adding Abbott would be going through “a rotten time” right now, however “the show has to go on.”
“It’s horrible. It is a dark, black experience. It’s awful. That sense of rejection. I deeply empathise with him. I am one of the few people who actually has a pretty good insight,” he told another TV channel about 57-year-old Abbott.
In the hastily-arranged late night party leadership ballot on September 14, Abbott received 44 votes against Turnbull's 54.
Image: Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (5th from right) poses for an official photograph with members of his new cabinet and the Australian Governor General Peter Cosgrove (Centre) after a swearing-in ceremony at the Government House in Canberra, Australia. David Gray/Reuters
