Second Turnbull ministry explained

Cabinet Name:	Second Turnbull ministry
Cabinet Type:	ministry
Cabinet Number:	70th
Jurisdiction:	Australia
Flag:	Flag of Australia.svg
Date Formed:	19 July 2016
Date Dissolved:	24 August 2018
Government Head:	Malcolm Turnbull
Deputy Government Head:	Barnaby Joyce Michael McCormack
State Head:	Elizabeth II
Current Number:	30
Political Party:	Liberal–National coalition
Legislature Status:	Coalition majority government
Opposition Cabinet:	Shorten Shadow Cabinet
Opposition Party:	Labor
Legislature Term:	45th
Previous:	First Turnbull ministry
Successor:	First Morrison ministry
State Head Title:	Monarch
Government Head Title:	Prime Minister
Deputy Government Head Title:	Deputy Prime Minister

The second Turnbull ministry (Liberal–National Coalition) was the 70th ministry of the Government of Australia, led by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. It succeeded the first Turnbull ministry following the 2016 Australian federal election on 2 July 2016.

On 13 January 2017, Sussan Ley resigned from her portfolios after an expenses scandal. In the following rearrangement, the roles of Greg Hunt and Arthur Sinodinos were changed, while Ken Wyatt became the first Indigenous Australian to serve as a federal minister.^[1]

On 25 July 2017, Matt Canavan resigned from Cabinet over doubts as to his eligibility to be a member of the parliament, after discovering that he was considered by the Italian authorities to be a citizen of Italy.^[2] Dual citizens are generally ineligible to be elected or sit as a member of parliament under section 44 of the Australian Constitution. Barnaby Joyce took on Canavan's portfolio. On 27 October 2017, Joyce and Fiona Nash were disqualified from parliament by the High Court, also due to holding dual citizenship, while Canavan was ruled eligible.

The ministry ended with Malcolm Turnbull's replacement by Scott Morrison following the Liberal Party of Australia leadership spills, 2018.

First arrangement

The first arrangement of the second Turnbull ministry was sworn in on 19 July 2016 and continued unaltered until the resignation of Sussan Ley on 13 January 2017, following an investigation into her travel expenses.^{[3] [4]} Arthur Sinodinos briefly acted in Ley's portfolios until the new ministry was sworn in on 24 January 2017.^[5]

Cabinet

Party	Minister	Portfolio
	Liberal		Prime Minister Leader of the Liberal Party
	National		Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Leader of the National Party
	Liberal		Minister for Foreign Affairs Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party
	National	Senator Fiona Nash	Minister for Regional Development Minister for Regional Communications Minister for Local Government and Territories Deputy Leader of the National Party
	LNP		Attorney-General Leader of the Government in the Senate Vice-President of the Executive Council
	Liberal		Treasurer
	Liberal	Senator Mathias Cormann	Minister for Finance Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
	Liberal		Minister for Defence Industry Leader of the House
	CLP	Senator Nigel Scullion	Minister for Indigenous Affairs Leader of the Nationals in the Senate
	LNP		Minister for Immigration and Border Protection
	Liberal		Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science
	Liberal	Sussan Ley (until 13 January 2017)	Minister for Health and Aged Care Minister for Sport
	Liberal	Senator Marise Payne	Minister for Defence
	Liberal	Senator Mitch Fifield	Minister for Communications Minister for the Arts
	Liberal	Senator Michaelia Cash	Minister for Employment Minister for Women Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Public Service
	Liberal		Minister for Social Services
	Liberal	Senator Simon Birmingham	Minister for Education and Training
	Liberal		Cabinet Secretary
	LNP		Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment
	National		Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
	Liberal		Minister for Revenue and Financial Services
	Liberal		Minister for the Environment and Energy
	LNP	Senator Matt Canavan	Minister for Resources and Northern Australia

Outer Ministry

Party	Minister	Portfolio
	Liberal
	Liberal	Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells	Minister for International Development and the Pacific
	Liberal		Minister for Justice Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Counterterrorism
	National		Minister for Small Business
	Liberal		Minister for Veterans' Affairs Minister for Defence Personnel Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Cyber Security
	Liberal		Minister for Human Services
	Liberal	Senator Scott Ryan	Special Minister of State Minister Assisting the Cabinet Secretary

Assistant Ministers

Party	Minister	Portfolio
	LNP	Senator James McGrath	Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister
	Liberal		Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation
	LNP		Assistant Minister for Trade, Investment and Tourism
	Liberal	Senator Anne Ruston	Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources
	Liberal		Assistant Minister to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection
	LNP		Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills
	Liberal		Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care
	Liberal		Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science
	Liberal	Senator Zed Seselja	Assistant Minister for Social Services and Multicultural Affairs
	LNP		Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services
	National		Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister
	National

Second arrangement

The second arrangement of the second Turnbull ministry was sworn in by the Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove, on 24 January 2017 following the resignation of Sussan Ley. Newly appointed ministers included Ken Wyatt, as the first Indigenous Australian to serve as a minister for an Australian Government department, appointed to the role of Minister for Indigenous Health and as Minister for Aged Care. Greg Hunt was appointed to Ley's former portfolios in Health and Sport; Arthur Sinodinos was appointed to Hunt's former portfolio as Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science. Scott Ryan was given additional responsibilities as the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Cabinet. David Gillespie, previously Assistant Minister for Rural Health was promoted as Assistant Minister for Health and Michael Sukkar was appointed as the Assistant Minister to the Treasurer.^[6] The position of Cabinet Secretary was abolished.

On 25 July 2017, during the 2017 Australian parliamentary eligibility crisis, Matt Canavan resigned from Cabinet over doubts as to his eligibility to be a member of the parliament, after discovering that he was considered by the Italian authorities to be a citizen of Italy.^[7] Dual citizens are ineligible to be elected or sit as a member of parliament under section 44 of the Australian Constitution.

Cabinet

Party	Minister	Portfolio
	Liberal		Prime Minister Leader of the Liberal Party
	National		Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Leader of the National Party
	Liberal		Minister for Foreign Affairs Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party
	National	Senator Fiona Nash	Minister for Regional Development Minister for Regional Communications Minister for Local Government and Territories Deputy Leader of the National Party
	LNP		Attorney-General Leader of the Government in the Senate Vice-President of the Executive Council
	Liberal		Treasurer
	Liberal	Senator Mathias Cormann	Minister for Finance Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
	Liberal		Minister for Defence Industry Leader of the House
	CLP	Senator Nigel Scullion	Minister for Indigenous Affairs Leader of the Nationals in the Senate
	LNP		Minister for Immigration and Border Protection
	Liberal		Minister for Health Minister for Sport
	Liberal	Senator Marise Payne	Minister for Defence
	Liberal	Senator Mitch Fifield	Minister for Communications Minister for the Arts
	Liberal	Senator Michaelia Cash	Minister for Employment Minister for Women Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Public Service
	Liberal		Minister for Social Services
	Liberal	Senator Simon Birmingham	Minister for Education and Training
	Liberal		Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science
	LNP		Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment
	National		Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
	Liberal		Minister for Revenue and Financial Services
	Liberal		Minister for the Environment and Energy
	LNP	Senator Matt Canavan (until 25 July 2017)	Minister for Resources and Northern Australia

Outer Ministry

Party	Minister	Portfolio
	Liberal
	Liberal	Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells	Minister for International Development and the Pacific
	Liberal		Minister for Justice Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Counter-Terrorism
	National		Minister for Small Business
	Liberal		Minister for Veterans' Affairs Minister for Defence Personnel Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Cyber Security
	Liberal		Minister for Indigenous Health Minister for Aged Care
	Liberal		Minister for Human Services
	Liberal	Senator Scott Ryan	Special Minister of State Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Cabinet

Assistant Ministers

Party	Minister	Portfolio
	LNP	Senator James McGrath	Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister
	Liberal		Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation
	LNP		Assistant Minister for Trade, Investment and Tourism
	Liberal	Senator Anne Ruston	Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources
	Liberal		Assistant Minister to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection
	LNP		Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills
	Liberal		Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science
	Liberal	Senator Zed Seselja	Assistant Minister for Social Services and Multicultural Affairs
	LNP		Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services
	National		Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister
	National		Assistant Minister for Health
	Liberal		Assistant Minister to the Treasurer

Third arrangement

The third arrangement of the second Turnbull ministry was sworn in by the Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove, on 27 October 2017 following the High Court ruling that Barnaby Joyce and Fiona Nash were invalidly elected due to holding dual citizenship. The same ruling found that Canavan was eligible, allowing him to return to the role of Minister for Resources and Northern Australia that had been held by Joyce in his absence. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull took on Joyce's portfolio of Agriculture and Water Resources, and Nigel Scullion took over as the parliamentary leader of the National Party, while the position of Deputy Prime Minister remained vacant with Julie Bishop serving as acting Prime Minister when necessary.^{[8] [9]} Nash's roles were split between Darren Chester (Regional Development, Territories and Local Government) and Mitch Fifield (Regional Communications) as acting ministers.^[10]

Joyce regained his Agriculture and Water Resource portfolio on 6 December 2017 after he was re-elected in the 2017 New England by-election.

Cabinet

Party	Minister	Portfolio
	Liberal		Prime Minister Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Leader of the Liberal Party
	Liberal		Minister for Foreign Affairs Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party
	LNP		Attorney-General Leader of the Government in the Senate Vice-President of the Executive Council
	Liberal		Treasurer
	Liberal	Senator Mathias Cormann	Minister for Finance Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
	Liberal		Minister for Defence Industry Leader of the House
	CLP	Senator Nigel Scullion	Minister for Indigenous Affairs Leader of the National Party in parliament
	LNP		Minister for Immigration and Border Protection
	Liberal		Minister for Health Minister for Sport
	Liberal	Senator Marise Payne	Minister for Defence
	Liberal	Senator Mitch Fifield	Minister for Communications Minister for the Arts Acting Minister for Regional Communications
	Liberal	Senator Michaelia Cash	Minister for Employment Minister for Women Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Public Service
	Liberal		Minister for Social Services
	Liberal	Senator Simon Birmingham	Minister for Education and Training
	Liberal		Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science
	LNP		Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment
	National		Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Acting Minister for Regional Development Acting Minister for Local Government and Territories
	Liberal		Minister for Revenue and Financial Services
	Liberal		Minister for the Environment and Energy
	LNP	Senator Matt Canavan	Minister for Resources and Northern Australia

Outer Ministry

Party	Minister	Portfolio
	Liberal
	Liberal	Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells	Minister for International Development and the Pacific
	Liberal		Minister for Justice Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Counter-Terrorism
	National		Minister for Small Business
	Liberal		Minister for Veterans' Affairs Minister for Defence Personnel Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Cyber Security
	Liberal		Minister for Indigenous Health Minister for Aged Care
	Liberal		Minister for Human Services
	Liberal	Senator Scott Ryan	Special Minister of State Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Cabinet

Assistant Ministers

Party	Minister	Portfolio
	LNP	Senator James McGrath	Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister
	Liberal		Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation
	LNP		Assistant Minister for Trade, Investment and Tourism
	Liberal	Senator Anne Ruston	Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources
	Liberal		Assistant Minister to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection
	LNP		Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills
	Liberal		Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science
	Liberal	Senator Zed Seselja	Assistant Minister for Social Services and Multicultural Affairs
	LNP		Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services
	National		Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister
	National		Assistant Minister for Health
	Liberal		Assistant Minister to the Treasurer

Fourth arrangement

The fourth arrangement of the second Turnbull ministry was sworn in by the Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove, on 20 December 2017 following a period of ministerial resignations due to the 2017 Australian parliamentary eligibility crisis including the appointment of Scott Ryan as the President of the Senate, the retirement of George Brandis to take up Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, the recovery of Arthur Sinodinos from cancer, the changes to administrative arrangements with the creation of the Department of Home Affairs.^[11]

Cabinet

Party	Minister	Portfolio
	Liberal		Prime Minister Leader of the Liberal Party
	National		Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Leader of the National Party
	Liberal		Minister for Foreign Affairs Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party
	Liberal		Attorney-General
	Liberal		Treasurer Minister for Home Affairs from 21 August 2018
	Liberal	Senator Mathias Cormann	Minister for Finance Special Minister of State Vice-President of the Executive Council Leader of the Government in the Senate until 23 August 2018
	Liberal		Minister for Defence Industry Leader of the House
	CLP	Senator Nigel Scullion	Minister for Indigenous Affairs Leader of the National Party in the Senate
	LNP		Minister for Home Affairs until 21 August 2018
	Liberal
	Liberal	Senator Marise Payne	Minister for Defence
	Liberal	Senator Mitch Fifield	Minister for Communications Minister for the Arts Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
	Liberal	Senator Michaelia Cash	Minister for Jobs and Innovation
	Liberal		Minister for Social Services
	Liberal	Senator Simon Birmingham	Minister for Education and Training Manager of Government Business in the Senate Leader of the Government in the Senate from 23 August 2018
	National	Senator Bridget McKenzie	Minister for Sport Minister for Rural Health Minister for Regional Communications Deputy Leader of the National Party
	LNP		Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment
	LNP		Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources
	Liberal		Minister for Revenue and Financial Services Minister for Women Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service
	Liberal		Minister for the Environment and Energy
	LNP	Senator Matt Canavan	Minister for Resources and Northern Australia
	Liberal		Minister for Human Services Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Digital Transformation
	LNP	John McVeigh MP	Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government

Outer Ministry

Party	Minister	Portfolio
	Liberal
	Liberal	Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells	Minister for International Development and the Pacific
	Liberal		Minister for Law Enforcement and Cybersecurity
	Liberal		Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs
	Liberal		Minister for Small and Family Business, the Workplace and Deregulation
	National		Minister for Veterans' Affairs Minister for Defence Personnel Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC Deputy Leader of the House
	Liberal		Minister for Indigenous Health Minister for Aged Care

Assistant Ministers

Party	Minister	Portfolio
	LNP	Senator James McGrath	Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister
	National	Damian Drum	Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister
	Liberal	Senator Anne Ruston	Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources
	Liberal		Assistant Minister for Home Affairs
	LNP		Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills
	Liberal	Senator Zed Seselja	Assistant Minister for Science, Jobs and Innovation
	LNP		Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services
	National		Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment
	National		Assistant Minister for Children and Families
	Liberal		Assistant Minister to the Treasurer
	Liberal		Assistant Minister for the Environment
	Liberal		Assistant Minister for Finance

Final Cabinet composition

Following Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce's resignation from cabinet, the fifth arrangement of the second Turnbull ministry was sworn in on 26 February 2018 by the Governor of Victoria, Linda Dessau, in her capacity as Administrator of the Commonwealth while Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove was overseas. Michael McCormack took on Joyce's roles after being elected National Party leader that morning.^[12] Rearrangement of other portfolios took effect from 5 March 2018 when the Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove swore in the newly appointed Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries: Darren Chester as Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel; Keith Pitt as Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister; and Mark Coulton as Assistant Minister to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment.^[13] Damian Drum and Luke Hartsuyker were demoted from the ministry.^[14]

The composition lasted until the 2018 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spills, when a number of ministers resigned from the cabinet to support the spill. These include Peter Dutton, Michael Sukkar, James McGrath, Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, Angus Taylor, Zed Seselja, Michael Keenan and Steve Ciobo. Turnbull refused to accept some.^{[15] [16]} Turnbull was ousted as party leader and Prime Minister and replaced by Scott Morrison.

Cabinet

Party	Minister	Portfolio
	Liberal		Prime Minister Leader of the Liberal Party
	National		Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Leader of the National Party Deputy Leader of the House
	Liberal		Minister for Foreign Affairs Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party
	Liberal		Attorney-General
	Liberal		Treasurer Minister for Home Affairs
	Liberal	Senator Mathias Cormann	Minister for Finance Special Minister of State Vice-President of the Executive Council Leader of the Government in the Senate
	Liberal		Minister for Defence Industry Leader of the House
	CLP	Senator Nigel Scullion	Minister for Indigenous Affairs Leader of the National Party in the Senate
	Liberal
	Liberal	Senator Marise Payne	Minister for Defence
	Liberal	Senator Mitch Fifield	Minister for Communications Minister for the Arts Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
	Liberal	Senator Michaelia Cash	Minister for Jobs and Innovation
	Liberal		Minister for Social Services
	Liberal	Senator Simon Birmingham	Minister for Education and Training Manager of Government Business in the Senate
	National	Senator Bridget McKenzie	Minister for Sport Minister for Rural Health Minister for Regional Communications Deputy Leader of the National Party
	LNP		Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment
	LNP
	Liberal		Minister for Revenue and Financial Services Minister for Women Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service
	Liberal		Minister for the Environment and Energy
	LNP	Senator Matt Canavan	Minister for Resources and Northern Australia
	Liberal		Minister for Human Services Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Digital Transformation
	LNP		Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government
	National		Minister for Veterans' Affairs Minister for Defence Personnel Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC

Outer Ministry

Party	Minister	Portfolio
	Liberal
	Liberal	Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells	Minister for International Development and the Pacific
	Liberal		Minister for Law Enforcement and Cybersecurity
	Liberal		Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs
	Liberal		Minister for Small and Family Business, the Workplace and Deregulation
	Liberal		Minister for Indigenous Health Minister for Aged Care

Assistant Ministers

Party	Minister	Portfolio
	LNP	Senator James McGrath	Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister
	National	Keith Pitt	Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister
	Liberal	Senator Anne Ruston	Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources
	Liberal		Assistant Minister for Home Affairs
	LNP		Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills
	Liberal	Senator Zed Seselja	Assistant Minister for Science, Jobs and Innovation
	LNP		Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services
	National		Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment
	National		Assistant Minister for Children and Families
	Liberal		Assistant Minister to the Treasurer
	Liberal		Assistant Minister for the Environment
	Liberal		Assistant Minister for Finance

See also

• Turnbull government
• First Turnbull ministry

Notes and References

1. News: Ken Wyatt becomes first Indigenous minister under Malcolm Turnbull's reshuffle . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . Henry Belot . 18 January 2017 . 20 January 2017 .
2. News: Matt Canavan resigns from Malcolm Turnbull's ministry over Italian citizenship. Belot. Henry. ABC News. 25 July 2017. 26 July 2017.
3. News: Sussan Ley stands aside pending travel expenses investigation. 9 January 2017. ABC News. 9 January 2017. en-AU.
4. News: Health Minister Sussan Ley resigns over expenses scandal. 13 January 2017. ABC News. 13 January 2017. en-AU.
5. News: Stephanie. Anderson. Greg Hunt announced as Sussan Ley's replacement as Health Minister. ABC News. 18 January 2017. 2 June 2019.
6. News: New federal ministers officially sworn in. 24 January 2017. Sky News. Australia. 24 January 2017. AAP. en-AU.
7. News: Matt Canavan resigns from Malcolm Turnbull's ministry over Italian citizenship. Belot. Henry. ABC News. 25 July 2017. 26 July 2017.
8. Web site: Barnaby Joyce, Malcolm Roberts and other 'citizenship seven' MPs receive verdict - live from the High Court . The Sydney Morning Herald . Peatling . Stephanie . 27 October 2017 . 28 October 2017.
9. Web site: Turnbull: Nationals happy for Julie Bishop to be acting prime minister . The Guardian . Knaus . Christopher . 28 October 2017 . 28 October 2017.
10. Web site: PM keeps it quick . The Australian . Baxendale . Rachel . 27 October 2017 . 28 October 2017 . subscription.
11. Web site: Ministerial arrangements . . Turnbull. Malcolm . Malcolm Turnbull. 19 December 2017 . 19 December 2017.
12. Web site: Michael McCormack new Deputy Prime Minister, Nationals leader . The Sydney Morning Herald . 26 February 2018 . 26 February 2018 . Kenny . Mark.
13. Web site: Ministerial Swearing-in ceremony . . 5 March 2018 . 7 March 2018 . Canberra .
14. News: Darren Chester handed Veterans Affairs portfolio in Cabinet reshuffle . . Australia . 1 March 2018 . 7 March 2018 . Belot, Henry .
15. News: As it happened: Leadership turmoil continues after Turnbull beats Dutton in leadership vote. 2018-08-21. ABC News. 2018-08-21. en-AU.
16. Web site: Dutton supporters rally as second challenge to Turnbull's leadership looms. Murphy. Katharine. 2018-08-21. the Guardian. en. 2018-08-21.