With an oath to “well and truly serve the Commonwealth of Australia”, and the flick of a signature, Anthony Albanese has officially become Australia’s 31st prime minister.
Victorian-based federal MP Richard Marles was sworn in as deputy Prime minister and Minister for employment, rather than defence minister – a position he was widely speculated to take.
Throughout the campaign, it was rumoured that Marles would take the defence portfolio if Labor won the election.
The development strongly suggests that fellow federal Victorian MP Brendan O’Connor will keep the defence portfolio.
South Australian senator Penny Wong officially became Australia’s foreign minister (the nation’s first foreign minister who was born overseas).
Queensland’s Jim Chalmers was sworn in as treasurer, while ACT senator Katy Gallagher became Australia’s new finance minister.
The ceremony was conducted at Government House in Canberra in the presence of Governor-General David Hurley. There was only a small group of attendees due to COVID-19 safety measures.
The rest of Australia’s new ministry will be sworn in after Albanese and Wong return from Japan for international talks.
SOURCE: SMH/PACNEWS
