Angus Taylor reveals new shadow cabinet lineup | Stock Journal

stockjournal.com.au · Feb 17, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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Opposition leader Angus Taylor revealed his shadow cabinet on February 17. Picture by AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi.Angus Taylor has revealed the Coalition's new shadow ministry, seeking to draw a line under months of internal instability and chart a path back to metropolitan relevance while consolidating the opposition's regional base.Subscribe now for unlimited access to all our agricultural news across the nation or signup to continue readingAll articles from our website & appThe digital version of This Week's PaperOur entire networkThe new Opposition Leader, who replaced Sussan Ley after a bruising internal contest last Friday, has assembled a 23-member team that rewards key conservative backers he also hopes can rebuild the Coalition brand after a turbulent year.He also confirmed that the Nationals will be reinstated immediately in overriding a six-week cabinet suspension instigated by Ms Ley as a condition of reforming the Coalition a week ago.Mr Taylor said his frontbench was an intentional blend of "proven experience" and next generation talent in a "fresh beginning" for the opposition."The team is designed to do two key things - one, prosecute Labor's failures... it is a long list and, two, to ensure the Coalition changes Australia for the better," he said."Strength comes through unity. And unity is again needed for strength."This new team will also see the return of our National Party colleagues. A decision endorsed by the Liberal Party leadership team a short time ago. Today marks a fresh beginning."In changes announced in Canberra on Tuesday afternoon, Melbourne MP Tim Wilson takes over the Treasury portfolio in moving from industrial relations and employment and replacing Ted O'Brien, while new deputy leader Jane Hume takes over IR and employment, as well as productivity and deregulation."She'll focus on getting wages up by lifting productivity and making it easier for Australians to get ahead. These are integral roles for our economic agenda," Mr Taylor said.Mr Wilson led the party's post-election campaign last year against Labor's controversial plan to tax unrealised gains on large superannuation balances that it has since scrapped.Claire Chandler, the first Liberal to resign in support of Mr Taylor last week, is the other new face in the finance team, being named opposition finance, government services and the public service spokeswoman.Mr O'Brien has been handed the coveted foreign affairs role.Aspiring party leader Andrew Hastie takes industry and sovereign capability.Three of Mr Taylor's chief backers have also been rewarded with James Paterson taking on defence from finance, Jonno Duniam taking on a merged portfolio comprising immigration and home affairs, meaning that Paul Scarr who formerly held immigration under Ms Ley has been demoted, and Dan Tehan retaining energy and emissions reduction.Mr Tehan will also become manager of Opposition business.Garth Hamilton, a qualified engineer, will be shadow assistant minister for energy security and affordability.Senator Paterson will work side by side with Phil Thompson, who will serve as shadow minister for defence industry and shadow defence personnel, a role that has been elevated to shadow cabinet in recognition of the growing strategic challenges Australia now faces. Melissa McIntosh will take on the role of shadow minister for families and social services, shadow minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and shadow minister for women. Senator Andrew Bragg continues as the shadow minister for housing and homelessness and takes on the role of shadow environment minister. Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has been elevated into shadow cabinet, a move seen as both a reward for loyalty to Mr Taylor after switching from the Nationals last year to run as his deputy in an unsuccessful post-election tilt at the leadership and in a bid to sharpen the Coalition's appeal in outer metropolitan and regional seats.She takes on small business, skills and training, while Michaelia Cash retains the portfolio of Attorney-General and Sarah Henderson was promoted to communications and digital safety.West Australian senator Matt O'Sullivan has entered the outer ministry in the social services portfolio, while former bureaucrat Simon Kennedy will serve as assistant spokesman for the Opposition Leader.Aaron Violi will serve in the outer ministry as shadow minister for the digital economy, shadow minister for cyber security, and shadow minister for science, technology and innovation. Senator Dean Smith will serve as the shadow assistant minister to the Shadow Treasurer and shadow assistant minister for the cost of living.Cameron Caldwell will become whip and assistant housing spokesman.Ley loyalists who made the cut apart from Mr O'Brien were Andrew Bragg, who has kept housing, Anne Ruston, who retains health and aged care and is leader of the opposition in the Senate. Juilan Leeser, who controls the hIndigenous Australians and education portfolios and , . Tony Pasin will back her as shadow minister for scrutiny of government waste and accountability in a role Mr Taylor said is designed to take aim at "Labor's rorts and waste that are driving up inflation and contributing to higher prices for your groceries, electricity and housing".The Nationals retain the portfolios they held prior to the split last month, with leader David Littleproud retaining agriculture, deputy leader Kevin Hogan trade, investment and tourism, Bridget McKenzie with infrastructure, transport and regional development, Ross Cadell water and emergency management, fisheries and forestry, Sam Birrell assistant minister for regional health, Susan McDonald will serve as the shadow minister for resources and Northern Australia and Darren Chester retaining veterans' affairs and Anne Webster will be the shadow minister for regional development, local government and territories.Backers of Ms Ley, who will now retire from politics and trigger a by-election in the seat of Farrer, removed from the shadow ministry include her numbers man Alex Hawke, Andrew Wallace, Scott Buchholz and Paul Scarr. James McGrath, Angie Bell and Kerryn Liddle has also been relegated despite voting for Mr Taylor.The Coalition will be hoping the team can turn the page on a difficult period since last year's federal election, marked by leadership instability, infighting over policy, two splits of the political relationship and a slide in support to minor parties - particularly Pauline Hanson's One Nation - following the federal election defeat.Taylor's immediate political task is threefold: regain ground in metropolitan Australia, retain and energise regional and outer-suburban voters, and blunt the rise of One Nation on the right.Despite the reshuffle, Mr Taylor's larger challenge lies in policy development.He has already flagged a harder line on immigration settings, arguing that migration levels must better align with housing supply and infrastructure capacity, but is yet to unveil a comprehensive alternative economic agenda, housing package or energy platform.The latest Roy Morgan survey found primary support for the Coalition lifting 3.5 points to 23.5 per cent in the first weekend after Taylor replaced Ley, while One Nation fell 3.5 points to 21.5pc.Support for Labor rose 1.5 points to 32pc.On a two-party preferred basis, however, Labor remains ahead 55-45, down 3.5 points but still enough to be returned with a similar majority if an election were held now.The gender breakdown underscores the scale of Taylor's challenge. Men swung sharply back to the Coalition after the leadership change, with the opposition leading 52.5-47.5 among male voters on a two-party preferred basis. Among women, however, Labor maintained a commanding 62-38 advantage.DailyDaily HeadlinesToday's top stories curated by our news team.