Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is for the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham. The former Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Michael McCormack, was a member of the cabinet task force created to oversee the status of women in Australia. It was tasked with, amongst other things, the government's response to the Foster review and the Jenkins inquiry. Will newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister Joyce replace Mr McCormack?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McAllister, a supplementary question?

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The former Deputy Prime Minister, Mr McCormack, was the deputy chair of the governance committee of cabinet responsible for the ministerial standards and the conduct of members of the executive. Will newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister Joyce, the only member of parliament to have his own clause in the ministerial standards, replace Mr McCormack?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I haven't seen an update to all of the cabinet committee arrangements, but I'm sure they'll be published in the ordinary way.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McAllister, a final supplementary question?

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Nationals MP Michelle Landry said earlier this week in relation to the prospective reappointment of now Deputy Prime Minister Joyce:

I think that if he became leader again there would be women out there that would be unhappy with that.

If Mr Joyce doesn't even have the confidence of his own colleagues, how can he have a seat at the cabinet task force on the status of women?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The cabinet task force on women's safety and economic security brings together all of the cabinet ministers who are women across our government, along with Senator Hume and Senator Stoker in that task force. I note there is a record number of women serving in the Australian cabinet who sit as part of that task force. It is important, in terms of the consideration of those matters of women's safety and women's economic security, that the leadership of the government across the coalition parties hears clearly on those issues of safety and economic security. That's what the purpose of that task force is. It's why the Prime Minister is a member of that task force and co-chairs it with Senator Payne. It's why the Deputy Prime Minister, the Treasurer and myself, as Minister for Finance, are all there: to ensure that it informs the decisions right across the government, as it is intended to do. (Time expired)