Minister defends Gillard’s reshuffle plans

Updated

December 11, 2011 17:13:06


Front bench speculation... Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and Prime Minister Julia Gillard
Photo:
Front bench speculation… Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and Prime Minister Julia Gillard (Ian Waldie: Getty Images)

Special Minister of State Gary Gray has defended the way the Prime Minister is handling the reshuffle of her front bench as the Opposition takes aim at Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd.

Julia Gillard is planning to announce changes to her ministry early this week, leading to days of speculation about which ministers will be dumped and who will be promoted.

But Mr Gray says the process cannot be rushed.

“These things take time, you’ve got to get them right and I know the Prime Minister is giving careful consideration to how she wishes to deploy her team for the course of 2012 and 2013,” he said.

The Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has told Sky television, the Prime Minister needs to remove Mr Rudd from Cabinet.

“Unless she addresses the Kevin Rudd poison at the heart of her government, it will continue to be dysfunctional,” he said.

“Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd cannot be in the same cabinet for government to function.”

There is also speculation that Bill Shorten and Greg Combet will be promoted, but Mr Abbott says that is not the right move for Labor.

“If Shorten and Combet end up in more senior positions, rest assured it’s the faceless men who remain in charge,” he said.

Mr Abbott says he has no plans to reshuffle the shadow Cabinet, saying he is happing with the existing team.

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First posted

December 11, 2011 17:00:32

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