Minister for Indigenous Health and Aged Care, Ken Wyatt in Turnbull Cabinets

After being sworn in as Minister for Indigenous Health and Aged Care, Ken Wyatt is the country’s first Indigenous person into the Commonwealth ministry, in time prompted by the resignation of former health minister Sussan Ley by Federal politicians gathered at Government House in Canberra for a swearing-in ceremony, in time there is announcing by Greg Hunt inform that Ms Ley’s surrogate a week ago, taking on the health post of minister as part of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s fourth reorganization since taking the top office less around 18 months ago. Mr Arthur Sinodinos was sworn in today alongside Mr Hunt, the first who has taken over the industry, innovation and science post of minister. Kenneth George Wyatt, born 4 August 1952, is a member of the Australian House of Representatives representing the electoral division of Hasluck in Western Australia for the Liberal Party of Australia. Wyatt is the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care since September 2015. He is of Aboriginal Australian, Indian, English and Irish root, and in 2010 turn into the first Aboriginal member of the House of Representatives, and also the first indigenous federal minister in 2017. </s> Ken Wyatt is the country’s first Indigenous person into the Commonwealth ministry after being sworn in as Minister for Indigenous Health and Aged Care.

Federal politicians have gathered at Government House in Canberra for a swearing-in ceremony, prompted by the resignation of former health minister Sussan Ley.

Greg Hunt was announced as Ms Ley’s replacement last week, taking on the health portfolio as part of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s fourth reshuffle since taking the top office less than 18 months ago.

Mr Hunt was sworn in today alongside Arthur Sinodinos, who has taken over the industry, innovation and science portfolios.

Mr Hunt described Mr Wyatt’s appointment as “historic”, saying on Twitter that it was “a very significant day for our nation”.

Michael Sukkar was also promoted to Assistant Minister to the Treasurer and David Gillespie to Assistant Minister for Health.

Mr Turnbull announced the appointments last week following Ms Ley’s resignation amid ongoing investigations into her travel expense claims. </s> Ken Wyatt sworn in as first Indigenous minister in Malcolm Turnbull's reshuffle

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Sorry, this video has expired Video: Ken Wyatt becomes first Indigenous federal minister (ABC News)

Ken Wyatt is the country's first Indigenous person into the Commonwealth ministry after being sworn in as Minister for Indigenous Health and Aged Care.

Federal politicians have gathered at Government House in Canberra for a swearing-in ceremony, prompted by the resignation of former health minister Sussan Ley.

Greg Hunt was announced as Ms Ley's replacement last week, taking on the health portfolio as part of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's fourth reshuffle since taking the top office less than 18 months ago.

Mr Hunt was sworn in today alongside Arthur Sinodinos, who has taken over the industry, innovation and science portfolios.

Mr Hunt described Mr Wyatt's appointment as "historic", saying on Twitter that it was "a very significant day for our nation".

Michael Sukkar was also promoted to Assistant Minister to the Treasurer and David Gillespie to Assistant Minister for Health.

Mr Turnbull announced the appointments last week following Ms Ley's resignation amid ongoing investigations into her travel expense claims.

Topics: indigenous-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander, indigenous-policy, government-and-politics, federal-parliament, australia

First posted </s> Ken Wyatt to be sworn in as first Indigenous minister in Malcolm Turnbull's reshuffle

Australia will today welcome its first Indigenous person into the Commonwealth ministry as Ken Wyatt takes on the role of Minister for Indigenous Health and Aged Care.

Federal politicians have gathered at Government House in Canberra for a swearing-in ceremony, prompted by the resignation of former Health Minister Sussan Ley.

Greg Hunt was announced as Ms Ley's replacement last week, taking on the health portfolio as part of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's fourth reshuffle since taking top office less than 18 months ago.

Arthur Sinodinos, who has been acting health minister since Ms Ley stepped down, will now take over the industry, innovation and science portfolios.

Michael Sukkar will also be promoted to Assistant Minister to the Treasurer and David Gillespie to Assistant Minister for Health.

Mr Turnbull announced the appointments last week following Ms Ley's resignation amid ongoing investigations into travel expense claims. </s> Whether you regard 26 January as an occasion to celebrate modern Australia or see it as “Invasion Day”, “Survival Day”, or just another public holiday, one thing is certain: the shocking rates of violence, family breakdown and incarceration among Indigenous Australians will still be with us on 27 January.

Amid all the celebration – and squabbling – around Australia Day, we need to continue to focus on the immediate, often life-threatening, problems, especially in remote communities, and what can be done to make the communities safer.

For just how long these dire problems remain depends on many factors, including what governments do now.

Working with the “No More” coalition of Indigenous women and men against violence, I will propose to our prime minister Malcolm Turnbull that he could take a very positive step to assisting us to end the violence if he were to ask Ken Wyatt MP, minister for Indigenous health and aged care and first Aboriginal minister of the commonwealth, to take responsibility for this issue.

Many of us are waiting for the time when he will become minister for Indigenous affairs. His knowledge and understanding of the area, the respect he has earned on both sides of the parliament, and his pride in his Indigenous heritage would make his appointment an historic one.

A coordinated approach by the federal government with the states and territories is urgently required. The latter are responsible for child protection and law enforcement – two critical issues for Indigenous Australians.

Here are some facts. Ask yourself: would such situations, of such magnitude, be permitted to continue in your suburb?
• Indigenous women are 32 times more likely to be hospitalised for family violence than non-Indigenous.
• About a quarter of Indigenous Australians aged above 15 report being victims of physical or threatened violence – twice the rate for non-Indigenous.
• Hospitalisation rates for Indigenous assault are highest in remote and very remote areas.
• The mortality rate for assault for Indigenous Australians is seven times the rate of non-Indigenous.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are 27% of the prisoner population in Australia but only 2% of the Australian population.
• 17,000 Aboriginal children are under care and protection orders and another 15,455 in out-of-home care. Indigenous children are seven times more likely to be receiving child protection services than non-Indigenous children.
• The suicide rate for Indigenous Australians is double that for non-Indigenous.



One of the good things about Australia Day is that it provokes discussion about history and the ongoing relevance to the present of what happened long ago. 



Granted, the main Australian history textbook in state schools in Australia in the 1960s made fleeting reference to Aboriginal people in a single paragraph, listing them after “fauna and flora”.

But it is inconceivable that such a text would be taught today, and it’s strange that some Aboriginal activists are so stuck in the past that they still claim Aboriginal history is suppressed.

That stance ignores the huge body of work covering that history – books, memorials, documentaries, films, museum exhibitions, artworks, plays, oral history projects and web sites ensuring we never forget the dispossession, massacres, resistance and forced removals.

The most important struggle for Indigenous justice in the first half of the 20th century was the battle for full citizenship rights, led by strong people like William Cooper, Doug Nicholls and Marge Tucker. We must never forget their struggle and legacy – their determination to win rather than just protest and, above all, their remarkable dignity. They were confident their demands could stand up to rigorous debate.

Our demands for safe communities cannot be realised by governments alone. As Indigenous Australians, we know all too well that there is need in some places for cultural change at the grassroots level, for greater personal responsibility. But there are now many inspiring role models among Australia’s 750,000 Indigenous Australian citizens.

In 1966, headlines were made around Australia when an Aboriginal man graduated from university with a full degree. It was sensational news, making Charles Perkins a public figure. Today, there are more than 30,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander university graduates. The great majority of Aboriginal Australians reside and work in cities and towns and are to be found in nearly all professions and occupations, including most recently that of airline pilot.

There is much goodwill in the Australian community and it is ridiculous that in the 21st century — in a rich, democratic country like Australia — problems such as Indigenous family violence still exist to the extent they do.
• Josephine Cashman is appearing on a panel about family violence and Indigenous women at the Yabun Festival at Camperdown in Sydney on 26 January, 4-5pm. </s> Australia has a hung federal parliament after independent Dr Kerryn Phelps became the first ever non-Liberal candidate to claim victory in the Wentworth by-election.

Victory to the well known GP in former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull's seat in Sydney's eastern suburbs has meant that the Morrison Government has lost its one seat majority.

Sky News and ABC analyst Antony Green declared victory to Dr Phelps within 90 minutes after polling booths closed at 6pm on Saturday.

A jubilant Dr Phelps was all smiles as she made her grand entrance at her election party at North Bondi Life Saving Club at around 8pm, where she hugged and danced with supporters.

'I won't let you down,' she told the crowd.

Mr Turnbull's son Alex welcomed the result against the Liberals.

'Incredible result and proud of the people of Wentworth. A hearty congratulations to Dr Kerryn Phelps who fought a great campaign. A great day for Australian democracy,' he tweeted on Saturday night.

It's the first time the Liberals haven't been elected in the seat since Federation in 1901.

Deputy opposition leader Tanya Plibersek urged Prime Minister Scott Morrison to call an early election during a Sky News interview.

Former Turnbull government minister Craig Laundy hopes the former prime minister isn't blamed for the loss in his former seat.

'If we do lose this seat tonight one of the interesting things we are going to see is how quickly those that were responsible (for the leadership challenge) try to turn it to: 'It's Malcolm's fault, not what we did,' Mr Laundy told Sky News.

'I argued all the way through for stability and loyalty and came up short but it's our job now and I think there is an internal struggle within the party sadly about where we go going forward.' </s> Scott Morrison was elected by the ruling Liberal Party to become Australia’s next – and 30th – prime minister.

The 50-year-old overcame Peter Dutton, who was the key challenger to incumbent PM Malcolm Turnbull, to win a leadership ballot by 45 votes to 40.

He is expected to be sworn in by Governor-General Peter Cosgrove after Mr Turnbull officially resigns.

Born in Sydney in 1968, Mr Morrison has been Australia’s Treasurer – the equivalent of the UK’s Chancellor – since September 2015.

He was first elected as an MP in 2007 when he won the seat of Cook, located in the southern suburbs of Sydney.

He was appointed to the frontbench after the 2010 election, before being promoted to the Cabinet by Tony Abbott three years later, taking on the the role of Minister for Immigration and Border Protection.

In that role, Mr Morrison launched Operation Sovereign Borders, a tough military-led operation aimed at stopping illegal boats carrying asylum seekers from arriving in Australia – a policy which attracted huge media attention.

It was credited with eliminating maritime arrivals – but also attracted criticism from refugee activists and human rights groups.

A short stint as Minister for Social Services between 2014 and 2015 followed, before Mr Turnbull appointed him to the prize position of Treasurer after taking over from Mr Abbott as PM in 2015.

A biography on the Australian Treasury website reads: “As Treasurer, his achievements have included reducing the deficit, getting debt under control, maintaining Australia’s AAA credit rating, record jobs growth, cutting corporate and personal income taxes, ensuring multinationals pay their fair share of tax and reforming Australia’s banking and financial system.”

After last year’s referendum on same-sex marriage, Mr Morrison, a church-goer, said he would back a new “religious protections” bill.

Before beginning a career in politics, Mr Morrison worked in tourism and was managing director of Tourism Australia between 2004 and 2006.

Better-known as ScoMo, he lives in Sutherland in Sydney’s south with his wife Jenny and their two young daughters. He supports the NRL Cronulla Sutherland Sharks, and says he his a fan of Australian musician Tina Arena. </s> Australia has a hung federal parliament after independent Dr Kerryn Phelps claimed victory in the Wentworth by-election, becoming the first non-Liberal to hold the seat.

The shock result in former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull's seat in Sydney's eastern suburbs means the Morrison Government has lost its one seat majority.

Sky News and ABC analyst Antony Green declared victory to Dr Phelps within 90 minutes after polling booths closed at 6pm on Saturday.

A jubilant Dr Phelps was all smiles as she made her grand entrance at her election party at North Bondi Life Saving Club at around 8pm, where she hugged and danced with supporters.

'I won't let you down,' the well-known GP told the crowd.

'What we have done is tapped into a sentiment in the Australian people, to talk about the issues that are important to them. This victory is for the people in Australia who need a voice.'

Dr Phelps later told Sky News: 'I believe people want politics to move to the sensible centre. I believe they are interested in having strong, local representation. I will vote on good legislation if I see it.'

Liberal candidate Dave Sharma conceded defeat shortly afterwards, where he was briefly joined by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

'I'm certainly glad I kept my day job,' Mr Sharma joked to supporters.

Mr Turnbull's son Alex welcomed the result against the Liberals.

'Incredible result and proud of the people of Wentworth. A hearty congratulations to Dr Kerryn Phelps who fought a great campaign. A great day for Australian democracy,' he tweeted on Saturday night.

It's the first time the Liberals haven't held the seat since Federation in 1901.

'Since 1901 Wentworth has provided the Liberal Party with two leaders, one PM, one deputy leader, a Treasurer, and an Attorney-General. It’s never been lost before. Today, Wentworth has called time on arrogance, incompetence, dysfunction,' shadow treasurer Chris Bowen tweeted.

Earlier on in the night, deputy opposition leader Tanya Plibersek urged Mr Morrison to call an early election during a Sky News interview.

Former Turnbull government minister Craig Laundy hopes the former prime minister isn't blamed for the loss in his former seat.

'If we do lose this seat tonight one of the interesting things we are going to see is how quickly those that were responsible (for the leadership challenge) try to turn it to: 'It's Malcolm's fault, not what we did,' Mr Laundy told Sky News.

'I argued all the way through for stability and loyalty and came up short but it's our job now and I think there is an internal struggle within the party sadly about where we go going forward.' </s> David Hurley has been sworn in as Australia's vice-regal representative at Parliament House.

The former defence force chief assumes the post at the end of Sir Peter Cosgrove's five-year commission.

He intends to use his tenure to highlight the strength of Australians and their concern for the common good.

AAP

"We can be informed by many sources of the ills of our sociey; it is important that we are reminded of its goodness," he told the Senate chamber.

Mr Hurley said he will also do his best to highlight the importance of the work of governor-generals in "depicting a nation to its people".

"Australia can be provided with a reflection of themselves and other countries," he said, paying tribute to the strength of Australia's democratic system.

"My emphasis on community engagement will sit alongside the critical constitutional role performed by the Governor-General. Australia has an enviable record as a parliamentary democracy."

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Support for veterans, asylum seekers, Indigenous Australians

He said his time as NSW governor has made him acutely aware of the "richness" and cultural diversity of Australia.

"I have seen this richness of spirit at work in the people and the organisations assisting our veterans, our rural communities under stress, asylum seekers who we have welcomed into our country and our Indigenous brothers and sisters.

"There are countless organisations and people demonstrating how rich this country is every day.

"As Governor-General, I am committed absolutely to supporting these people in their work."

Mr Hurley also drew on a quote by Australian author David Malouf that is etched on a glass plaque at Sydney's Circular Quay.

Malouf, he noted, is representative of the diversity of Australia, having a Lebanese father and British mother of Portuguese decent.

"Australia is still revealing itself to us. We oughtn't to close off possibilities by declaring too early what we have already become," the plaque reads.

"Australia is not a finished product," Mr Hurley stressed.

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Decades of service in the army

Mr Hurley became the NSW governor in 2014 after 42 years of service in the Australian Army, the last three of which he spent as chief of the defence force.

Accompanied by his wife Linda, Mr Hurley received the general salute in the parliament forecourt.

In the Senate chamber, Australia's Chief Justice Susan Kiefel swore in the 27th governor-general, reading and signing the oaths of allegiance and office.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Mr Hurley then signed the proclamation to complete the ceremony.

The governor-general opened his acceptance speech with an acknowledgement of country in Ngunnawal language, after calling for Indigenous languages to be taught more widely in schools in an Australia Day speech.

In December, he urged people to look beyond his military background after criticism that three of the last four appointments of governor-general have been retired army generals.

'Understanding people's challenges'

Mr Morrison gave some insight into his choice after appointing him late last year.

"General Hurley is known for looking people straight in the eye. Not up and not down. He was that way with those he led in the military and he's been that way as a governor and throughout his life," Mr Morrison said in December.

"Looking eye-to-eye, face-to-face, understanding people's challenges and issues one-on-one, in a very direct and very humble and a very humane way."

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Facing questions about why he did not consider a woman to fill the role, Mr Morrison said Mr Hurley's selection was a "package deal" with his wife of more than 40 years.

The governor-general is appointed by the Queen in Commonwealth countries, on the advice of the prime minister, to be the representative of the Crown.

Mr Hurley was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his leadership during Operation SOLACE in Somalia in 1993 and was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2010 for eminent service to the army.
Ken Wyatt is sworn in as the first Indigenous Australian ever to serve as a Federal minister, becoming the Minister for Indigenous Health and Aged Care.