Monday, February 16, 2009

It's Joe Hockey!


Oh my...

Malcolm Turnbull: "I today announce changes to the Shadow Ministerial line-up.

The changes include three movements within the Shadow Cabinet, and an additional responsibility for one Shadow Minister and the Senate Opposition Whip.

The Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party, Julie Bishop, will assume the role of Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs. I reiterate my great appreciation to Julie for her work as Shadow Treasurer and look forward to continuing to collaborate closely with her as Deputy Liberal Leader.

Joe Hockey will take on the responsibility of Shadow Treasurer. Senator Helen Coonan will be Shadow Minister for Finance, Competition Policy and Deregulation. Joe and Helen, both of whom served in Treasury portfolios in the previous Coalition government, will present a formidable team to take on the Rudd Government over its mishandling of the economy and bungled response to the Global Financial Crisis.

Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training, Christopher Pyne, will take on the additional responsibility of the Manager of Opposition Business in the House of Representatives.

Given the heavy responsibilities of the Shadow Finance Minister in the Senate, Senator Stephen Parry will take over responsibility as Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate in addition to his role as Opposition Whip.

These changes to the Shadow Ministry strongly position the Coalition to continue to hold the Rudd Government to account for its misguided economic decisions – most recently the poorly targeted $42 billion spending package which will not create jobs, saddles future generations with an enormous debt, and leaves us less secure as a nation."