Australian news and politics live: Ley announces new shadow ministry after reuniting Liberal Party, Nationals

Liberal leader Sussan Ley’s first frontbench is all about the women. From the dusty streets of Broome to the leafy avenues of Sydney’s north shore, Ms Ley has placed women from across the continent at the forefront of her alternative government.

The gender promotion has come at a cost, though, and conservative women have paid it. In return for three years pushing back against Left-wing doctrine in schools and universities, education spokeswoman Sarah Henderson lost her job and is now on the backbench.

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who was going to run for deputy leader two weeks ago, only remains in the shadow ministry because the new defence spokesman, Angus Taylor, convinced her to become his understudy in the defence personnel and technology portfolio.

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Mr Joyce spoke on David Littleproud of just rewarding his supporters.

“In this game, you get a pretty good idea. And I’m just saying this, it’s the prerogative of the leader to pick who likes but important to keep the party room together.

“I will focus on making sure that we keep our nation safe and making sure that pensioners come before Paris Agreement, that I will look after pensioners first and make sure they are not cold, they are not put out of the house are living in cars by reason of a policy that has no effect, net zero, except virtue statement.

“I think that you have to be certain that when you are picking a cabinet and you’ve got, to be quite frank, people from both sides if there is differing views, you’ve got people from both sides and that’s important to keep the show together otherwise, a lot of colleges would be angry but at say this to you than behind people’s back because it’s true.”

LOSERS

• Angus Taylor: Loses shadow treasury to become defence spokesman
• Jane Hume: Bumped from shadow cabinet
• Sarah Henderson: Bumped from shadow cabinet
• Jacinta Nampijinpa Price: Bumped from shadow cabinet
• Barnaby Joyce: Bumped from shadow cabinet
• Michael McCormack: Bumped from shadow cabinet

WINNERS

• Ted O’Brien: Elevated to shadow treasurer
• Alex Hawke: Gets industry portfolio
• Andrew Bragg: Gets housing and homelessness portfolio
• James Paterson: Gets finance portfolio
• Tim Wilson: Shadow minster for industrial relations and employment, shadow minister for small business
• Michaelia Cash: Shadow foreign minister

After a brutal demotion, Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce has hit out at claims “generational change” is a valid reason for him not to receive a shadow cabinet position.

“I’m going to be honest, so it is not generational change, it’s ridiculous. It is personality and politics.

“If you look at it, I know David is 48, fair enough, Kevin is 61, I’m 58, so he’s older than me. Bridget 55, well, same area. Darren, just slightly younger than me at 57. Susan Ross at 55.

“It is not generational change. So we have to be straight. Being on the back bench stranded cat through this”.

“It is a decision based on policy and personalities, and that’s OK, that is absolutely the prerogative of the leader. I think we have to be careful, I look it to Mr Littleproud has picked, I would say all them in the Cabinet voted for him in the leadership spill, and the vast majority of the others.

“So if you don’t blink both sides up it is hard to bring unity back into the party structure”.

Education Minister Jason Clare has called the uncertainty over foreign students’ access to America’s most renowned university “really worrying,” pledging to assist affected Australian students.

The future of international students at Harvard University is in doubt after the Trump administration announced a ban on their enrolment for the next academic year after accusing the institution of failing to protect Jewish students and criticising its diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

Harvard has launched a legal challenge, but if it fails, new international students would be barred from enrolling while current ones would be forced to either transfer elsewhere or lose their legal status.

“It’s really worrying. And I feel for every Aussie student who’s at Harvard now about to graduate,” Mr Clare said in exclusive comments to The Nightly.

“[Ambassador] Kevin Rudd, the whole team at the Embassy in Washington are working with the US at the moment to obtain details about the decision so we can provide further information to them,” he said.

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Nationals Leader David Littleproud was asked if Michael McCormack was “being punished” for speaking out during the Coalition’s break-up.

“No,” Mr Littleproud said, shooting down the accusation.

“I made it clear when I became leader three years ago that I wanted to have generational change but, at that point, wanted to respect the leadership that was before me to allow them to impart their wisdom, their experience, on the party room, in nurturing the next generation.

“When you look at what Pat Conaghan, Ann Webster, did in the last term, they put their shoulder to the wheel.

“Pat Conaghan came up single-handedly, in support with Matt Canavan, on our vaping policy, drove it together.

“They did the grunt work.

“When you’ve got people like that with that calibre, I’ve got to continue to move forward.

“I know it’s disappointing that people don’t get positions, but it doesn’t diminish their position in our party room.”

“This is a new Parliament with a new leader,” Ms Ley said.

“A fresh approach is what I sought to undertake and have undertaken.

“Looking back to the previous Government, there were positions that people held and did extraordinarily good jobs in those positions.

“This is a new Parliament with new people being elected and a new agenda moving forward.

“I am thrilled that I have so many terrific colleagues and that, as I said earlier, are not on this list, are certainly incredibly valued and will continue to play that very, very important role that all of us must in Opposition.”

Ms Ley said she had recently spoken with Country Liberal Party Senator Jacinta Price about being put in defence.

“She’s excited to take it up,” Ms Ley said.

“There is no more important area than safety, national security and defence, and you will see a great profiling of defence under Angus Taylor as we go forward in this term of Opposition.

“I’m delighted that Jacinta is taking up what is actually a vital role and her style of communication and relationship with (the) Australian people will be incredibly valuable.”

As Ms Ley announced her new shadow ministry, one name was clearly absent. Jane Hume.

Ms Ley was asked if Ms Hume had asked not to be on the frontbench.

“I don’t reflect on private conversations,” Ms Ley said.

“I will say that this. These are tough days and having been through many days like this myself in my parliamentary career, I recognise that.

“But what I want to say about Jane Hume is she is an enormously talented, fantastic member of this team, who has contributed amazingly over her political career, will continue to do so and is a strong performer across different subjects.”

Ms Ley said Ms Hume was not “being punished”.

Nationals Leader David Littleproud acknowledged the Coalition getting back together, saying the team were ready to hold Anthony Albanese to account.

Mr Littleproud announced Darren Chester would be moved into veteran affairs.

“Senator Ross Cadell will come into shadow cabinet and we’ll take over where Perry Davey - who sadly lost her spot in the Senate - Ross will come in as the new water, fisheries, forestry and emergency services minister,” he said.

“Ann Webster will be the new shadow minister for regional development, local government and regional telecommunications.

“Pat Conaghan will be the Assistant Treasurer, Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Financial Services.

“Sam Birrell will become shadow assistant minister for health and education, and Jamie Chaffee... comes forward as the new shadow assistant minister for agriculture and resources.”