For the first time in Australian history federal cabinet has gender parity.
The milestone was reached on Monday when three women were sworn in as ministers to take on roles at the NDIS, following the retirement of Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and former Labor party leader Bill Shorten.
Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth will take on Shorten’s role as NDIS minister while Minister for Finance Katy Gallagher adopts Shorten’s government services portfolio.
Minister for Early Childhood Education Anne Aly also becomes the junior minister for the NDIS.
As well, Aged Care Minister Anika Wells has been promoted to cabinet.



L-R: Amanda Rishworth, Katy Gallagher, and Anne Aly take on roles in the NDIS (aph.gov.au)
As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese noted at the swearing-in ceremony at Government House in Canberra: “It’s the first time in Australian history, since federation, that we’ve had equal representation in the cabinet of the government of Australia.”
In response to the appointments, the Australian Greens called the selections “a missed opportunity” to implement a recommendation of the disability royal commission, which proposed a ministerial role be created to promote disability inclusion.

“A minister for disability inclusion would be responsible for improving the lives of all disabled Australians – not just those who are eligible for the NDIS. A minister for disability inclusion would enable us to have the cross-government action we need to improve the lives of disabled people across all areas of life – like education, healthcare, public transport – just to name a few,” said Senator Jordon Steele-John, Australian Greens spokesperson for disability rights and services.
Meanwhile, following the resignations of Shorten and Liberal MP Keith Pitt, Speaker of the House of Representatives Milton Dick is considering the possibility of holding a by-election and will make an announcement in due course.
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