Shadow cabinet of Australia

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In Australian federal politics, the shadow cabinet is the opposition's equivalent to the federal cabinet. It comprises the most senior figures within the opposition, headed by the leader of the opposition as the counterpart to the prime minister of Australia.

Contents

The shadow cabinet is the highest level of the shadow ministry (or "opposition frontbench"), which also includes other less senior shadow ministers (equivalent to the government's "outer ministry") and shadow assistant ministers. The members of the shadow ministry are assigned one or more portfolios, usually though not necessarily corresponding to an existing ministerial portfolio within the government. They serve as the opposition's chief spokespeople on matters within their portfolio, and during parliamentary question time may direct questions at their government equivalent. If the opposition forms government, such as through winning a federal election, it is typical for members of the shadow ministry to retain the same portfolio.

The current shadow cabinet as of June 2022 is the Dutton shadow cabinet.

Role and functions

According to Bateman (2008), the shadow cabinet exists as a "recognised component of the parliamentary system" but "the functions, roles and practices of the Shadow Cabinet are far less clear than those of the Cabinet". [1]

The role of the shadow ministry in making opposition policy has varied. [2]

Meetings of shadow cabinet are less formal than actual cabinet meetings, typically lasting a shorter time. [3]

History

In May 1965, the Australian Labor Party Caucus voted to establish a formal shadow ministry of 25 members. [4] This replaced an earlier "opposition executive" consisting of 14 members. [5]

Since 1987, the shadow ministry has had at least as many members as the ministry, and sometimes more. Shadow parliamentary secretaries (known as shadow assistant ministers since 2016) were first appointed in 1990. [6]

Current arrangement

Shadow MinisterPortfolio [7] Image
Peter Dutton MP
(Dickson)
Peter Dutton May 2018.jpg
Sussan Ley MP
(Farrer)
SL - 2012 Profile.jpg
Senator Jane Hume
(Victoria)
  • Shadow Minister for Finance
  • Shadow Special Minister of State
  • Shadow Minister for the Public Service
Jane Hume Business Envoy.jpg
Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price
(Northern Territory)
  • Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price at CPAC launch.jpg
Senator Susan McDonald
(Queensland)
  • Shadow Minister for Resources
  • Shadow Minister for Northern Australia
Ted O'Brien MP
(Fairfax)
  • Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy
David Littleproud MP
(Maranoa)
David Littleproud.jpg
Senator Perin Davey
(New South Wales)
Senator Jonathon Duniam
(Tasmania)
  • Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry
Senator Jonathon Duniam.jpg
Senator Simon Birmingham
(South Australia)
  • Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
  • Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
Simon Birmingham.jpg
Kevin Hogan MP
(Page)
  • Shadow Minister for Trade and Tourism
Kevin Hogan 2019.jpg
Senator Michaelia Cash
(Western Australia)
  • Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
  • Shadow Attorney-General
  • Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Michaelia Cash March 2014.jpg
Senator Sarah Henderson
(Victoria)
  • Shadow Minister for Education
Senator sarah henderson 2019.jpg
Angus Taylor MP
(Hume)
  • Shadow Treasurer
Angus Taylor 2015 b.jpg
Paul Fletcher MP
(Bradfield)
  • Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy
  • Shadow Minister for Science and the Arts
  • Manager of Opposition Business in the House
Paul Fletcher headshot.jpg
Michael Sukkar MP
(Deakin)
  • Shadow Minister for Social Services
  • Shadow Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme
  • Shadow Minister for Housing
  • Shadow Minister for Homelessness
Michael Sukkar.jpg
Senator James Paterson
(Victoria)
  • Shadow Minister for Home Affairs
  • Shadow Minister for Cyber Security
  • Shadow Cabinet Secretary
James Paterson (cropped).jpg
Dan Tehan MP
(Wannon)
  • Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
Dan Tehan.png
Senator Anne Ruston
(South Australia)
  • Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care
  • Shadow Minister for Sport
  • Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate
Anne Ruston portrait.jpg
Senator Bridget McKenzie
(Victoria)
  • Leader of the National Party in the Senate
  • Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
Bridget McKenzie 2019.jpg
David Coleman MP
(Banks)
  • Shadow Minister for Communications
David Coleman.jpg
Andrew Hastie MP
(Canning)
  • Shadow Minister for Defence
  • Shadow Minister for Defence Industry
  • Shadow Minister for Defence Personnel
Anastasia Lin and Andrew Hastie MP in Parliamentary Offices 4 December 2018 (DB) (cropped).jpg
Barnaby Joyce MP
(New England)
  • Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs
Barnaby Joyce portrait.jpg

Salary and benefits

As of July 2019, ordinary shadow ministers were entitled to either a 20 or 25 percent loading on top of the base parliamentary salary. The loading depends on the number of shadow ministers. Officeholders within the opposition receive higher loadings, up to 87 percent for the leader of the opposition. [8] Historically, ordinary shadow ministers received no additional salary compared to backbenchers but were granted an additional staffing allowance. [9]

See also

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References

  1. Bateman 2008, p. 1.
  2. Bateman 2008, p. 4.
  3. Bateman 2008, p. 24.
  4. Bateman 2008, p. 9.
  5. Bateman 2008, p. 10.
  6. "The (official) Opposition". House of Representatives Practice. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 18 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  7. "Shadow Ministry - The 47th Parliament". Australian Parliament House. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  8. "Salary". Department of Finance. Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  9. Bateman 2008, p. 7.

Sources