Australia’s Prime Minister Announces Cabinet Reshuffle Amid Senior Ministers’ Retirement Plans

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a cabinet reshuffle on Sunday following the retirement plans of two senior ministers. This marks the first reshuffle since the centre-left Labor Party came to power in May 2022, as Albanese aims to refresh his team ahead of the next general election expected in 2025.

In a televised media conference in Canberra, Albanese stated, “I would expect that this is the team that I will take to the election when it is held sometime in the future.”

Key changes in the reshuffle include Tony Burke, currently arts minister, assuming the significant portfolios of home affairs, immigration and multicultural affairs, and cyber security. Clare O’Neil will shift from home affairs and cyber security to housing and homelessness, remaining in the cabinet. Meanwhile, immigration minister Andrew Giles will move to skills and training, no longer holding a cabinet position.

Northern Territory Senator Malarndirri McCarthy will take over as minister for indigenous Australians.

The reshuffle follows announcements from long-serving Labor ministers Brendan O’Connor and Linda Burney, who declared they would retire at the next election. Albanese praised both O’Connor and Burney for their “extraordinary contribution” to the nation over a long period.