Sussan Ley Reveals New Shadow Ministry After Jacinta Price Exit

Ley made a broader than expected reshuffle after Senator Jacinta Price was cut from the Liberal frontbench.

Former Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley during Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on July 30, 2025. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Australian Opposition leader Sussan Ley has reshuffled her shadow ministry following the removal of Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price from the frontbench.

Price was demoted on Sept. 10 after she refused to publicly endorse the leader and raised concerns about the high numbers of immigrants arriving in Australia.

On Sept. 14, Ley elevated Claire Chandler to shadow minister for cyber security and shadow minister for science.

“Senator Chandler has worked diligently in prosecuting Labor’s national security missteps. She has a deep passion for the subject matter in both these important portfolios,” Ley said in her announcement.

Simon Kennedy has been promoted to the newly created role of shadow assistant minister for artificial intelligence, shadow assistant minister for the digital economy, and shadow assistant minister for scrutiny of government waste.

Kennedy took over from former Prime Minister Scott Morrison in the seat of Cook in 2024 with his endorsement.

“Simon is one of the brightest minds in the Parliament and is a welcome addition to the Shadow Executive,” Ley said.

Senator James Paterson has also been promoted to the Coalition’s formal Leadership Group, where he will develop the economic agenda.

Moderate Gisele Kapterian has been promised a shadow ministry if she wins her court challenge for the seat of Bradfield.

Meanwhile, Melissa Price has been moved to the position of shadow minister for defence industry and defence personnel. She previously served as a minister in the same portfolio.

Ley also said Price would bring crucial experience to her responsibilities, having served in the same portfolio previously.

Senator Richard Colbeck was also appointed to Senate co-chair of the Liberal Legislative Committee, where he will join MP Tony Pasin.

Chandler Promoted After Criticism

The promotion of multiple women comes after Victorian Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson criticised Ley for demoting several senior women, including Chandler.

Chandler, a conservative, previously served as a shadow minister under former Opposition leader Peter Dutton.

“I didn’t deserve it, neither did Jane Hume, neither did [Chandler], and of course, neither did Jacinta. So there was the unfortunate targeting of senior Liberal women,” Henderson said on Sky News Australia.

Henderson said Price did not deserve to be removed from the shadow ministry.

“I do regret that she wasn’t given greater support. There was a bit of a pile on, and I think that is regrettable,” Henderson said.

“It could have been handled better by the Opposition leader. If it had been nipped in the bud, I don’t think it would have run on. But Labor MPs were calling Jacinta racist, which is a disgrace.”

Health Minister Mark Butler said on Sept. 12 that the Coalition should be holding Labor to account, “and also putting together a policy platform after an election where they did pretty poorly.”

“But we’re focused in the meantime on getting on with our job of governing Australia,” Butler told Sunrise.