Taylor shadow ministry

Taylor shadow ministry
Shadow cabinet of Australia
Angus Taylor
Date formed	17 February 2026
People and organisations
Opposition Leader	Angus Taylor
Deputy Opposition Leader	Jane Hume
Total no. of members	44
Member parties	Liberal   National
Status in legislature	Opposition
History
Legislature term	48th
Predecessor	Ley shadow ministry

The shadow ministry of Angus Taylor is the shadow ministry from February 2026, in opposition to the Albanese government. The shadow ministry is the Opposition's alternative to the Albanese ministry.

The shadow ministry was appointed by Liberal Party leader Angus Taylor and his deputy Jane Hume on 17 February 2026, following a party leadership spill on 13 February when Taylor defeated incumbent leader Sussan Ley 34 votes to 17 and Hume defeated incumbent deputy Ted O'Brien in the final ballot 30 votes to 20. ^{[1] [2]} The shadow ministry succeeded the Ley shadow ministry as shadow ministry and Coalition frontbench, with no changes to portfolios held by the Liberal Party's coalition partner National Party.

Current arrangement

Follwing Taylor's successful spill against his predecesor Sussan Ley, Taylor announced his shadow ministry on 17 February 2026. The other ten frontbenchers who resigned from the Ley shadow ministry the week before (like Taylor himself) were re-appointed to the shadow ministry. ^{[3] [4]}

Taylor dumped Alex Hawke, Andrew Wallace, Paul Scarr, Melissa Price and Scott Buchholz from the frontbench, all of whom were reported to be supporters of Ley. Jason Wood was also dumped from the frontbench. Taylor also demoted James McGrath and Angie Bell from the shadow cabinet to the shadow outer ministry, and Kerrynne Liddle from the shadow cabinet to the shadow assistant ministry. ^{[3] [4]} Ley was also not included in the shadow ministry as she had already announced her intention to resign from parliament after the spill. ^[5]

Taylor also promoted a few of his supporters back to the shadow cabinet, such as Andrew Hastie, Sarah Henderson and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who along with Hume, were backbenchers during the second half of Ley's leadership (October 2025 to February 2026). The portfolios of other shadow cabinet ministers were also reshuffled. Key reshuffles and appointments include Tim Wilson appointed as shadow treasurer, Claire Chandler as shadow finance minister, Michaelia Cash appointed as shadow attorney-general, Ted O'Brien appointed as shadow foreign affairs minister, and James Paterson appointed as shadow defence minister. ^{[3] [4]}

Aaron Violi was elevated from the shadow assistant ministry to the shadow outer ministry, while Tony Pasin was brought back from the backbench into the shadow outer ministry. Henry Pike and Ben Small were elevated from the backbench to the shadow assistant ministry. ^{[3] [4]}

The eleven National Party frontbenchers, including party leader David Littleproud and deputy leader Kevin Hogan, also had their previous portfolios in the Ley shadow ministry reinstated immediately, brought forward from the intended 1 March 2026 date. These frontbenchers previously resigned their roles in January 2026 during the Coalition split, and a renewed Coalition agreement towards the end of the Ley shadow ministry had intended their portfolios to be reinstated on 1 March 2026. ^[4]

Shadow cabinet

Party		Shadow Minister	Portrait	Offices	Ref
	Liberal	Hon Angus Taylor (born 1966) MP for Hume (NSW) (2013–)		Leader of the Opposition Leader of the Liberal Party	[6]
	National (LNP)	Hon David Littleproud (born 1976) MP for Maranoa (Qld.) (2016–)		Shadow Minister for Agriculture Leader of the National Party	[7]
	Liberal	Hon Jane Hume (born 1971) Senator for Victoria (2016–)		Deputy Leader of the Opposition Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Shadow Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations Shadow Minister for Productivity and Deregulation
		Hon Michaelia Cash (born 1970) Senator for Western Australia (2008–)		Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Shadow Attorney-General	[8]
		Hon Anne Ruston (born 1963) Senator for South Australia (2012–)		Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care
		Hon Tim Wilson (born 1980) MP for Goldstein (Vic.) (2016–2022, 2025–)		Shadow Treasurer
		Hon Andrew Hastie (born 1982) MP for Canning (WA) (2015–)		Shadow Minister for Industry and Sovereign Capability Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party in the House of Representatives
		Hon Jonathon Duniam (born 1982) Senator for Tasmania (2016–)		Shadow Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate
		James Paterson (born 1987) Senator for Victoria (2016–)		Shadow Minister for Defence
		Claire Chandler (born 1990) Senator for Tasmania (2019–)		Shadow Minister for Finance Shadow Minister for the Public Service Shadow Minister for Government Services
	Liberal (LNP)	Ted O'Brien (born 1974) MP for Fairfax (Qld.) (2016–)		Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
	National	Hon Bridget McKenzie (born 1969) Senator for Victoria (2011–)		Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Leader of the National Party in the Senate	[9]
	Liberal	Julian Leeser (born 1976) MP for Berowra (NSW) (2016–)		Shadow Minister for Education Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians
		Melissa McIntosh (born 1977) MP for Lindsay (NSW) (2019–)		Shadow Minister for Families and Social Services Shadow Minister for Women Shadow Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme
		Hon Sarah Henderson (born 1964) Senator for Victoria (2019–) MP for Corangamite (Vic.) (2013–2019)		Shadow Minister for Communications and Digital Safety
		Andrew Bragg (born 1984) Senator for New South Wales (2019–)		Shadow Minister for Environment Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness
	Liberal (CLP)	Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (born 1981) Senator for the Northern Territory (2022–)		Shadow Minister for Skills and Training Shadow Minister for Small Business
	Liberal	Hon Dan Tehan (born 1968) MP for Wannon (Vic.) (2010–)		Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Manager of Opposition Business in the House
	National	Ross Cadell (born 1969) Senator for New South Wales (2022–)		Shadow Minister for Emergency Management Shadow Minister for Water Shadow Minister for Fisheries and Forestry	[10]
		Hon Darren Chester (born 1967) MP for Gippsland (Vic.) (2008–)		Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs	[11]
		Hon Kevin Hogan (born 1963) MP for Page (NSW) (2013–)		Shadow Minister for Trade, Investment and Tourism Deputy Leader of the National Party Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House	[12]
	National (LNP)	Susan McDonald (born 1970) Senator for Queensland (2019–)		Shadow Minister for Resources and Northern Australia	[13]
	Liberal	Phillip Thompson (born 1988) MP for Herbert (Qld.) (2019–)		Shadow Minister for Defence Industry Shadow Minister for Defence Personnel

Shadow outer ministry

Party		Shadow Minister	Portrait	Offices	Ref
	Liberal	Tony Pasin (born 1977) MP for Barker (SA) (2013–)		Shadow Minister Assisting for Fisheries and Forestry Shadow Minister for Scrutiny of Government Waste and Accountability
	Liberal (LNP)	Angie Bell (born 1968) MP for Moncrieff (Qld.) (2019–)		Shadow Minister for Sport Shadow Minister for Arts Shadow Minister for Youth	[14]
	National	Pat Conaghan (born 1971) MP for Cowper (NSW) (2019–)		Shadow Assistant Treasurer Shadow Minister for Financial Services	[15]
	Liberal	Aaron Violi (born 1984) MP for Casey (VIC) (2022–)		Shadow Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Shadow Minister for Cyber Security Shadow Minister for the Digital Economy	[16]
	Liberal (LNP)	Hon James McGrath (born 1974) Senator for Queensland (2014–)		Shadow Special Minister of State Shadow Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities Shadow Minister for Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games
	Liberal	Matt O'Sullivan (born 1978) Senator for Western Australia (2019–)		Shadow Minister for Choice in Childcare and Early Learning Shadow Minister for Child Protection and the Prevention of Family Violence Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate
	National	Dr. Anne Webster (born 1959) MP for Mallee (NSW) (2019–)		Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories Shadow Minister for Regional Communications	[17]

Shadow assistant ministry

Party		Shadow Minister	Portrait	Offices	Ref
	National	Sam Birrell (born 1975) MP for Nicholls (Vic.) (2022–)		Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Education
	Liberal	Leah Blyth Senator for South Australia (2025–)		Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence Infrastructure
	Liberal (LNP)	Cameron Caldwell (born 1979) MP for Fadden (Qld.) (2023–)		Shadow Assistant Minister for Housing
	National	Jamie Chaffey MP for Parkes (NSW) (2025–)		Shadow Assistant Minister for Agriculture Shadow Assistant Minister for Resources
	Liberal (LNP)	Garth Hamilton (born 1979) MP for Groom (Qld.) (2020–)		Shadow Assistant Minister for Energy Security and Affordability
	Liberal	Simon Kennedy (born 1982) MP for Cook (NSW) (2024–)		Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition Shadow Assistant Minister for Finance
	Liberal	Maria Kovacic (born 1982) Senator for New South Wales (2023-))		Shadow Assistant Minister for Women Shadow Assistant Minister for Productivity and Regulation
	Liberal	Kerrynne Liddle Senator for South Australia (2022–)		Shadow Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care
	Liberal	Zoe McKenzie (born 1972) MP for Flinders (Vic.) (2022–)		Shadow Cabinet Secretary Shadow Assistant Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations	[18]
	Liberal (LNP)	Henry Pike		Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health Shadow Assistant Minister for the NDIS
	Liberal	Dave Sharma (born 1975) Senator for New South Wales (2023–) MP for Wentworth (NSW) (2019–2022)		Shadow Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Shadow Assistant Minister for International Development and the Indo-Pacific	[19]
	Liberal	Ben Small		Shadow Assistant Minister for Electoral Matters Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure
	Liberal	Dean Smith (born 1969) Senator for Western Australia (2012–)		Shadow Assistant Minister to the Shadow Treasurer Shadow Assistant Minister for the Cost of Living	[20]
	National (LNP)	Andrew Willcox (born 1969) MP for Dawson (Qld.) (2022–)		Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Sovereign Capability	[21]

See also

• 2026 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill
• 2026 National Party of Australia leadership spill
• Ley shadow ministry
• Second Albanese ministry

References

1. Dhanji, Krishani (13 February 2026). "Angus Taylor becomes opposition leader after defeating Sussan Ley in Liberal party leadership ballot". Guardian Australia . Retrieved 13 February 2026.
2. "Angus Taylor wins Liberal leadership spill; Jane Hume elected deputy". ABC News. 13 February 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
3. "Angus Taylor unveils shadow ministry". ABC News. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
4. "Shadow Ministerial Arrangements". Liberal Party of Australia. 17 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
5. "Sussan Ley to quit politics after losing Liberal leadership to Angus Taylor". SBS News. 13 February 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
6. "TAYLOR, the Hon. Angus James". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
7. "LITTLEPROUD, the Hon. David Kelly". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
8. "Angus Taylor unveils shadow ministry" . Retrieved 17 February 2026.
9. "McKENZIE, the Hon. Bridget". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
10. "CADELL, Ross Philip". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 23 February 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
11. "CHESTER, the Hon. Darren Jeffrey". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
12. "HOGAN, the Hon. Kevin John". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 25 January 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
13. "McDONALD, Susan Eileen". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
14. "BELL, Angie Marion". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
15. "CONAGHAN, Patrick (Pat) John". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
16. "Parliamentary Handbook". handbook.aph.gov.au. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
17. "WEBSTER, Dr Anne Elizabeth". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
18. "McKENZIE, Zoe Anne". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 25 April 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
19. "SHARMA, Devanand (Dave) Noel". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 8 February 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
20. "SMITH, Dean Anthony". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
21. "WILLCOX, Andrew". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 7 June 2025.

External links

• Taylor shadow ministry - Liberal Party of Australia