Front bench 3.0: Is Rudd’s cabinet reshuffle healthy renewal or chaos?
In the wake of Kevin Rudd regaining his position as Prime Minister, the government has reshuffled it’s front bench. The government’s critics point to the chaos of four different education ministers in six months, but one expert says that all the fresh faces could work in Rudd’s favour.
Besides a few hints, there’s little to speak of in terms of change in policy at this stage. But fresh faces might convince voters that this is a new government, even without an election. There are now 11 female ministers out of the 30 people on the front bench, with Jacinta Collins taking on Mental Health and Ageing, and Julie Collins, now the Minister for Housing, Homelessness and the Status of Women. There are some old Rudd supporters who’ve been revived, but the image of chaos being painted by the opposition doesn’t seem to be sticking.