The first Turnbull ministry (Liberal–National Coalition) was the 69th ministry of the Government of Australia, led by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. It succeeded the Abbott ministry after a leadership spill that took place on 14 September 2015 ended Prime Minister Tony Abbott's leadership of the Liberal Party of Australia. On 15 September, the National Party confirmed, after successful negotiations, that it would continue a coalition agreement with the Liberal Party, guaranteeing the Turnbull government a majority in the Australian House of Representatives.
The Turnbull ministry carried over from its predecessor Abbott ministry, until Turnbull announced significant ministerial changes on 20 September 2015 which took effect the following day. On 29 December 2015, Jamie Briggs resigned from his portfolio following a complaint regarding a late night incident with a public servant; and on the same day, Mal Brough stood aside pending Australian Federal Police investigations into the James Ashby affair.
A second rearrangement was announced on 13 February 2016 following the retirements of Andrew Robb on 10 February 2016 and Warren Truss on 11 February, and the resignations from the ministry of Stuart Robert on 12 February and Mal Brough on 13 February. The second arrangement was sworn in by the Governor-General on 18 February.
First arrangement The first arrangement of the Turnbull ministry was sworn in on 21 September 2015 and continued until 18 February 2016. Like the Abbott ministry, the Turnbull ministry contained 30 ministers, but the number of ministers in the cabinet was increased from 19 to 21, with the outer ministry being reduced from 11 to 9. There were five women in the cabinet and there was one woman in the outer ministry. There were an additional 12 assistant ministers, three of which were women.
Minor changes to the Turnbull ministry took place following the resignation of Jamie Briggs and standing down of Mal Brough on 29 December 2015 and continued until 13 February 2016 when a rearrangement took place following the retirements of Andrew Robb (on 10 February 2016) and Warren Truss (on 11 February), and the resignations of Stuart Robert (on 12 February) and Brough (on 13 February).
Cabinet PartyMinisterPortfolioLiberal Malcolm Turnbull Prime Minister Leader of the Liberal PartyLNP Warren Truss Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Leader of the National Party (until 11 February 2016)Liberal Julie Bishop Minister for Foreign Affairs Deputy Leader of the Liberal PartyLNP Senator George Brandis Attorney-General Leader of the Government in the Senate Vice-President of the Executive CouncilLiberal Senator Mathias Cormann Minister for Finance Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate Special Minister of State (acting, from 29 December)Liberal Scott Morrison TreasurerNational Barnaby Joyce Leader of the National Party (from 11 February 2016) Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Deputy Leader of the National Party (until 11 February 2016)Liberal Christopher Pyne Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Leader of the HouseCLP Senator Nigel Scullion Minister for Indigenous Affairs Leader of the Nationals in the SenateLiberal Senator Marise Payne Minister for Defence Minister for Defence Materiel (acting, from 29 December 2015)Liberal Sussan Ley Minister for Health Minister for Sport Minister for Aged Care (from 30 September 2015)Liberal Senator Simon Birmingham Minister for Education and TrainingLiberal Senator Michaelia Cash Minister for Employment Minister for Women Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Public ServiceLiberal Christian Porter Minister for Social ServicesLiberal Kelly O'Dwyer Minister for Small Business Assistant TreasurerLiberal Andrew Robb Minister for Trade and InvestmentLiberal Greg Hunt Minister for the Environment Minister for Cities and the Built Environment (acting, from 29 December 2015)LNP Peter Dutton Minister for Immigration and Border ProtectionLiberal Senator Mitch Fifield Minister for Communications Minister for the Arts Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Digital GovernmentLiberal Josh Frydenberg Minister for Resources, Energy and Northern AustraliaLiberal Senator Arthur Sinodinos Cabinet Secretary
Outer ministry Party Minister PortfolioLiberal Paul Fletcher Minister for Territories, Local Government and Major ProjectsLNP Steven Ciobo Minister for International Development and the PacificLiberal Senator Richard Colbeck Minister for Tourism and International Education Minister Assisting the Minister for Trade and InvestmentLNP Mal Brough (resigned) Special Minister of State (until 29 December 2015) Minister for Defence Materiel and Science (until 29 December 2015)Liberal Jamie Briggs (resigned) Minister for Cities and the Built Environment (until 29 December 2015)National Senator Fiona Nash Minister for Rural Health Deputy Leader of the National Party (from 11 February 2016)LNP Stuart Robert Minister for Veterans' Affairs (until 12 February 2016) Minister for Human Services (until 12 February 2016) Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC (until 12 February 2016)Liberal Michael Keenan Minister for Justice Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Counter-TerrorismNational Luke Hartsuyker Minister for Vocational Education and Skills Deputy Leader of the House
Assistant ministers (parliamentary secretaries) Assistant ministers (other than the assistant treasurer) are sworn in and designated as parliamentary secretaries under the Ministers of State Act 1952. However, ministers of state who were sworn in as parliamentary secretaries on 21 September 2015 and 30 September 2015 are now referred to by Turnbull as Assistant Ministers to provide greater clarity. Legislation has not been enacted to effect any change. Party Minister PortfolioLiberal Alan Tudge Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Assistant Minister for Social Services (from 30 September)LNP Senator James McGrath Assistant Minister to the Prime MinisterLiberal Dr Peter Hendy Assistant Minister for ProductivityLiberal Senator Scott Ryan Assistant Cabinet SecretaryNational Michael McCormack Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime MinisterLNP Karen Andrews Assistant Minister for ScienceLNP Wyatt Roy Assistant Minister for InnovationLiberal Ken Wyatt Assistant Minister for Health (from 30 September) Liberal Alex Hawke Assistant Minister to the TreasurerLiberal Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells Assistant Minister for Multicultural AffairsLiberal Senator Anne Ruston Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water ResourcesNational Darren Chester Assistant Minister for Defence
Second arrangement A second rearrangement of the Turnbull ministry was announced on 13 February 2016 following the retirements of Andrew Robb on 10 February 2016 and Warren Truss on 11 February, and the resignations of Stuart Robert on 12 February and Mal Brough on 13 February. The new ministry took office on 18 February.
Following the resignation of Truss as the Nationals' leader, Barnaby Joyce became the new National Party leader with effect from 11 February, while Fiona Nash became the National's new deputy leader and the first woman to hold this position. Joyce became the new Deputy Prime Minister with effect from 18 February. The number of Nationals, as cabinet members, increased from three to four with Nash, and Darren Chester becoming cabinet members.
Nash became Minister for Rural Health, Regional Communications and Regional Development. Chester became Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Steven Ciobo became Trade Minister and also moved into the cabinet. Senator Matt Canavan became Minister for Northern Australia. Finance Minister Mathias Cormann retained Special Minister of State in which he had been acting for Mal Brough when Brough had earlier stood aside pending the outcome of Australian Federal Police investigations. Senator Scott Ryan became Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, while Alan Tudge became Minister for Human Services, Dan Tehan became Defence Materiel and Veterans Services Minister. Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells became Minister for International Development and the Pacific. Robb became Special Envoy for Trade until the next election.
The cabinet was increased to 22 ministers, while the outer ministry was reduced to 8. There are six women in the cabinet and another one in the outer ministry and three assistant ministers.
Cabinet Party Minister Portrait Offices Liberal for Wentworth (NSW) Prime Minister Leader of the Liberal Party National for New England (NSW) Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Leader of the National Party Liberal for Curtin (WA) Minister for Foreign Affairs Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party National Senator for New South Wales Minister for Regional Communications Minister for Regional Development Minister for Rural Health Deputy Leader of the National Party National (LNP) Senator for Queensland Attorney-General Vice-President of the Executive Council Leader of the Government in the Senate Liberal for Cook (NSW) Treasurer Liberal Senator for Western Australia Minister for Finance Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate Special Minister of State Liberal for Sturt (SA) Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Leader of the House National Senator for the Northern Territory Minister for Indigenous Affairs Leader of the National Party in the Senate Liberal (LNP) for Dickson (QLD) Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Liberal for Flinders (VIC) Minister for the Environment Liberal for Farrer (NSW) Minister for Health Minister for Aged Care Minister for Sport Liberal Senator for New South Wales Minister for Defence Liberal Senator for Victoria Minister for Communications Minister for the Arts Liberal Senator for Western Australia Minister for Employment Minister for Women Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service Liberal for Pearce (WA) Minister for Social Services Liberal Senator for South Australia Minister for Education and Training Liberal Senator for New South Wales Cabinet Secretary Liberal (LNP) for Moncrieff (QLD) Minister for Trade and Investment National) for Gippsland (VIC) Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Liberal for Higgins (VIC) Minister for Small Business Assistant Treasurer Liberal for Kooyong (VIC) Resources and Energy
Outer ministry Party Minister Portrait Offices Liberal for Bradfield (NSW) Minister for Territories, Local Government and Major Projects Liberal Senator for New South Wales Minister for International Development and the Pacific Liberal Senator for Tasmania Minister for Tourism and International Education Minister Assisting the Minister for Trade and Investment Liberal for Stirling (WA) Minister for Justice Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Counter-Terrorism National (LNP) Senator for Queensland Minister for Northern Australia Liberal for Wannon (VIC) Minister for Veterans' Affairs Minister for Defence Personnel Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC Liberal for Aston (VIC) Minister for Human Services Liberal Senator for Victoria Minister for Vocational Education and Skills
Assistant ministers (parliamentary secretaries) Party Minister PortfolioLiberal Senator James McGrath Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Assistant Minister to the Minister for Immigration and Border ProtectionLiberal Angus Taylor Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Cities and Digital TransformationLiberal Dr Peter Hendy Assistant Cabinet Secretary