PM coy on ex-minister Laundy's future

Craig Laundy could be the next senior Liberal to exit Scott Morrison's team, with the prime minister declining to confirm the MP will stay in parliament.

Liberal member for Reid Craig Laundy

Craig Laundy has confirmed speculation he will quit at the next election. Source: AAP

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has declined to say whether another ex-minister is set to leave parliament at the next election.

Asked whether Sydney-based MP Craig Laundy would be retiring, Mr Morrison said: "I've been in regular contact with Craig since I became prime minister."

"Those matters will be addressed when we're in a position to do that," Mr Morrison told reporters in Sydney on Monday.

Comment was being sought from Mr Laundy's office.

The comments came after two cabinet ministers, Christopher Pyne and Steve Ciobo, declared on the weekend they would retire from parliament at the election

Other recent high-profile coalition retirements include: Kelly O'Dwyer, Nigel Scullion, Michael Keenan and Julie Bishop.

Mr Morrison, who is the third coalition prime minister since 2013, said he had a "clear and stable" team.

He took aim at Labor, which does not have a shadow home affairs minister.

"I am still waiting to know who is going to be their home affairs minister ... who is responsible, for keeping our borders strong?" Mr Morrison asked.

"In my team, you know who the defence minister is, you know who the foreign minister is, you know who the treasurer is, you know who the deputy prime minister is.

"It is a very clear and stable team."

Liberal senator Linda Reynolds has been elevated to defence industry minister, replacing Mr Ciobo, and will be defence minister should the coalition retain government, but Mr Morrison is yet to say who would replace other outgoing ministry members.

Labor leader Bill Shorten said his cabinet would include a home affairs minister, noting that there had been 22 reshuffles under the coalition since 2013.

"I would have thought the one issue that this beleaguered, strife-prone prime minister wouldn't have gone to is the issue of ministerial stability," Mr Shorten told reporters in Melbourne.

"This current prime minister can't guarantee from one week to the next who will be in the cabinet."


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Published 4 March 2019 2:08pm
Source: AAP


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