Foes set to unite

ScoMo assembles cabinet

JULIE Bishop is considering staying on as Foreign Minister in Scott Morrison’s new cabinet as the Prime Minister tries to reunite his broken party.

But junior ministers who plotted against Malcolm Turnbull including Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, James McGrath and Alan Tudge have been warned they will be punished for plotting by exclusion from the ministry.

But the man who failed in his coup attempt, Peter Dutton, will remain on the frontbench and yesterday pledged his support to Mr Morrison.

“I’m determined to do whatever we can to win the next election,” Mr Dutton said.

“I believe we are in a stronger position to win the election with Scott Morrison as Prime Minister.

“I have pledged my loyalty completely to Scott and to the new government. He is a man of integrity, he has a good story to tell, he’s down to earth and Queenslanders will relate to him,” Mr Dutton said.

One of Mr Morrison’s footsoldiers, Stuart Robert, is also expected to be rewarded for his loyalty with an elevation to the frontbench. The Queensland MP was dumped from the Turnbull ministry in 2016 over a pecuniary interest controversy.

Employment Minister Michaelia Cash is also under threat after she voted to bring on the spill.

Senior Liberal MPs have urged Mr Morrison not to make too many drastic changes in an effort to keep the peace.

Defence Minister and Turnbull ally Marise Payne may struggle to hold her portfolio and former PM Tony Abbott will stay a backbencher.