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.

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^[update] 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

This section is an excerpt from Shadow ministry of Peter Dutton § Shadow Cabinet.[edit]

Shadow Minister		Portfolio[7]	Image
Peter Dutton MP		Leader of the Opposition Leader of the Liberal Party
Sussan Ley MP		Deputy Leader of the Opposition Shadow Minister for Industry, Skills and Training Shadow Minister for Small and Family Business Shadow Minister for Women Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party
Senator Jane Hume		Shadow Minister for Finance Shadow Special Minister of State Shadow Minister for the Public Service
Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price		Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians
Senator Susan McDonald		Shadow Minister for Resources Shadow Minister for Northern Australia
Ted O'Brien MP		Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy
David Littleproud MP		Shadow Minister for Agriculture Leader of the National Party
Senator Perin Davey		Shadow Minister for Water Shadow Minister for Emergency Management Deputy Leader of the National Party Deputy Leader of the National Party in the Senate
Senator Jonathon Duniam		Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry
Senator Simon Birmingham		Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
Kevin Hogan MP		Shadow Minister for Trade and Tourism
Senator Michaelia Cash		Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Shadow Attorney-General Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Senator Sarah Henderson		Shadow Minister for Education
Angus Taylor MP		Shadow Treasurer
Paul Fletcher MP		Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy Shadow Minister for Science and the Arts Manager of Opposition Business in the House
Michael Sukkar MP		Shadow Minister for Social Services Shadow Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme Shadow Minister for Housing Shadow Minister for Homelessness
Senator James Paterson		Shadow Minister for Home Affairs Shadow Minister for Cyber Security Shadow Cabinet Secretary
Dan Tehan MP		Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
Senator Anne Ruston		Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care Shadow Minister for Sport Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate
Senator Bridget McKenzie		Leader of the National Party in the Senate Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
David Coleman MP		Shadow Minister for Communications
Andrew Hastie MP		Shadow Minister for Defence Shadow Minister for Defence Industry Shadow Minister for Defence Personnel
Barnaby Joyce MP		Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs

Salary and benefits

As of July 2019^[update], 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

• Shadow Ministry of Peter Dutton
• Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
• Manager of Opposition Business in the House
• Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate

References

Sources

• Bateman, Joel (2008). In the shadows: the Shadow Cabinet in Australia (PDF). Australian Parliamentary Library. ISBN 9780980655407.