Complex sentence: Prior to his ousting by Downer, Hewson brought Bishop back to the frontbench, having earlier declined a frontbench position from him the previous year, as Shadow Minister for Urban and Regional Strategy.
Split into simpler sentences: Prior to his ousting by Downer, Hewson brought Bishop back to the frontbench. She had declined a frontbench position from him the previous year, as Shadow Minister for Urban and Regional Strategy.