New opposition leader Peter Dutton will announce his shadow ministry on Sunday alongside the new leader of his Nationals coalition partner, David Littleproud.
Mr Dutton was announced as Liberals leader last week, unopposed in his party room after former prime minister Scott Morrison stepped aside following the coalition’s defeat at the May 21 federal election.
Mr Littleproud was voted Nationals leader, defeating Barnaby Joyce at its partyroom meeting, also last week.
Mr Dutton believes he has “incredible talent” both from the outgoing government frontbench but also people who have been on the backbench for a while.
“I want to give some of them the opportunity … so you will see some new faces,” the former defence minister told Sky News’ Sunday Agenda program.
“It’s important for us to have as many women as possible on the frontbench, that will be the feature of the frontbench we will announce later today.”
Mr Littleproud declined what to say what was in the agreement between the Liberal and Nationals parties that formed the coalition.
“It’s all about policies and you’ll see those policies that we enact,” he told ABC’s Insiders program.
“You don’t ask to get underneath the closed doors of the left or the right of the Labor Party, I don’t think you need to be in the policy discussions that the Liberal Party and the National Party has.”
Like Mr Dutton, he said the frontbench will draw on the experience of past ministers but will also include some new faces.
“That will take the National Party to the 2025 election with some enthusiasm and energy and new policies,” he said.
“We’ll work with Peter Dutton, his Liberal Party, to make sure that we have a cogent argument to take to the next election.”
