Morrison elevates pair in reshuffle

SCOTT Morrison has promoted key supporters Alex Hawke and Stuart Robert and will send two senior senators overseas as ambassadors in his first post-election cabinet.

The prime minister also named Ken Wyatt as the first indigenous Australian to be Indigenous Affairs Minister.

As expected, former environment minister Melissa Price - who had been unable to comfortably answer media questions about her portfolio has been demoted from cabinet and will now be Defence Industry Minister.

“Melissa and I discussed her role and she asked to be given a new challenge and I was pleased to give her one,” Mr Morrison told reporters in Canberra on Sunday.

She’s been replaced by rural NSW Liberal MP Sussan Ley as Environment Minister.

It’s a return to cabinet for Ms Ley who was in 2017 forced to stand down as health minister after revelations she purchased a Gold Coast apartment while on a work trip.

Mr Robert was assistant treasurer but has been promoted to cabinet as Government Services Minister and will oversee the NationalDisability Insurance Scheme.

Mr Hawke will be International Development Minister and assistant Defence Minister, in a bid to build stronger defence and economic ties with the Pacific.

Both men were key supporters of Mr Morrison in his bid to replace Malcolm Turnbull in August.

Michael Sukkar, who quit a previous role in August in a bid to get Peter Dutton into the top job, has been brought in from the cold as assistant treasurer to oversee the first home loan deposit scheme.

Nationals MP David Littleproud has been given water resources, natural disasters, and emergency management, while Bridge McKenzie will become Australia’s first ever female Agriculture Minister.

Alan Tudge will be Population Minister, while Richard Colbeck will take Aged Care, Youth and Sport.

Victorian senator Mitch Fifield will quit the Senate and go to the United Nations as ambassador, after asking to leave.

“I would have been very happy for Mitch to continue to serve in communications and the arts,” Mr Morrison said.

NSW senator Arthur Sinodinos will also replace Joe Hockey as ambassador to the United States.

Linda Reynolds will be Defence Minister, Peter Dutton will remain in Home Affairs and Dan Tehan will stay in Education.

Josh Frydenberg remains Treasurer, while Mathias Cormann stays on as Finance Minister.

Mr Morrison was given room to promote and reshuffle his ministry after a number of high profile ministers retired at the election.