Jane Hume, Tim Wilson to head up economic team; James Paterson set to move to defence porfolio
Updated ,first published
Liberal deputy leader Jane Hume and Goldstein MP Tim Wilson will lead the opposition’s new-look frontbencher Angus Taylor in efforts to regain the party’s image as better managers of the economy.
The new opposition leader unveiled his new team in Sydney on Tuesday afternoon, four days after unseating Sussan Ley, and called promoted MPs in the morning.
Wilson will be the new shadow treasurer, while Hume, who has the right to choose his portfolio as deputy leader, will be productivity and industrial relations spokesman. Both are classic free-market moderates from inner-city Melbourne.
Hume will not retain the finance portfolio he held with Taylor as shadow treasurer last term, when the opposition led by Peter Dutton was criticized for its economic proposals and the Coalition suffered an embarrassing defeat. Finance spokesperson will be Tasmanian senator Claire Chandler.
In another significant move, Sen. James Paterson switched from finance to defense, the portfolio Taylor held before becoming leader. Paterson was a key player in rallying support for Taylor to take over.
Mandarin speaker Ted O’Brien, who was deputy leader under Sussan Ley, will become foreign affairs spokesman and remain in the shadow cabinet. Moderate senator Andrew Bragg, another Ley supporter, holds the housing portfolio and will take on the role of environment spokesman.
Taylor was still phoning winners and losers over lunchtime Tuesday ahead of an announcement later in the afternoon.
A group of ardent Ley supporters including Andrew Wallace, Alex Hawke, Maria Kovacic, Melissa Price, Kerrynne Liddle and Paul Scarr have been removed from the shadow cabinet.
Paul Sakkal is the chief political correspondent. It has previously covered Victorian politics and won the Walkley and Quill awards. Reach him securely on Signal @paulsakkal.14Connect with: X or email.
