Login
Porter to remain in cabinet but reshuffle imminent
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed that federal Attorney-General Christian Porter will remain in cabinet but is yet to release details of the speculated reshuffle.
Naomi Neilson
Scott Morrison told media that Defence Minister Linda Reynolds and Mr Porter will remain in cabinet despite a looming reshuffle and calls for them both to be stood down following criticisms about the way the government has repeatedly responded to allegations of sexual harassment and assault both in and outside of Parliament.
To continue reading the rest of this article, please log in.
Create free account to get unlimited news articles and more!
While Mr Porter will remain in the cabinet, there has been speculation he will be removed from his Attorney-General portfolio pending the Federal Court defamation proceedings against the ABC for an article he claims damaged his reputation. Ms Reynolds is also expected to lose her defence portfolio.
Talking to Nine, Mr Morrison said Mr Porter was an “innocent man” and rejected the idea that he could launch a non-criminal inquiry into the historic rape allegations, which Mr Porter emotionally and strenuously denied three weeks ago. He told Nine that he would “continue to play a very important role in my cabinet”.
He also seemed to take aim at the rumours that have circulated since Mr Porter and Ms Reynolds stood down for respective health concerns, including those of a reshuffle: “When I make judgements about those things, I’ll announce them.”
The reshuffle, expected to be announced over the weekend, is likely to see MP Michaelia Cash take over Mr Porter’s responsibilities. She has been acting in the role since Wednesday, 3 March, the same day Mr Porter confirmed he was the cabinet minister accused of raping a woman and denied it during a tense press conference.
More to come.
This article was written on Friday, 26 March prior to the expected reshuffle announcement. An update will be provided as soon as we learn more details.
