George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

(—) (): by leave—I have the honour to inform the Senate that I have been appointed Leader of the Government in the Senate. Senator the Hon. Mathias Cormann has been appointed Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate. Senator the Hon. Scott Ryan has been appointed Assistant Manager of Government Business. Senator the Hon. Mitch Fifield will continue to serve as Manager of Government Business. I seek leave to have the updated list of the first Turnbull government for incorporation in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The document read as follows—

TURNBULL MINISTRY    30 September 2015

Each box represents a portfolio. Cabinet Ministers are shown in bold type. As a general rule, there is one department in each portfolio. However, there is a Department of Human Services in the Social Services portfolio and a Department of Veterans’ Affairs in the Defence portfolio. The title of a department does not necessarily reflect the title of a minister in all cases. Assistant Ministers in italics are designated as Parliamentary Secretaries under the Ministers of State Act 1952.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Leave granted.

I thank the Senate. Firstly, I congratulate Senator Brandis and congratulate too, in his absence, Senator Cormann, on being appointed to the leader and deputy leader positions. It is a great honour to hold any position in this parliament but particularly a leadership position. I also congratulate all of those opposite who were promoted in the context of the new ministerial arrangements. On behalf of the opposition, I also acknowledge the service of Senator Abetz, who held a leadership position for many years. Senator Abetz and I are about as far apart politically as we could be, but he has always dealt with me professionally and courteously, and I wish him and his family well.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I advise the Senate that Senator Cormann will be absent from question time today. In Senator Cormann's absence, I will represent the Finance, Treasury and Small Business portfolios, and I will also represent the Special Minister of State. Senator Payne will be absent from question time from today until Thursday inclusive. Senator Payne is attending the AUSMIN talks in the United States. In Senator Payne's absence, I will represent the Defence and Veterans' Affairs portfolios as well as the Minister for Defence, Materiel and Science and the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of Anzac. Senator Fifield will represent the Human Services portfolio.