http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/29/1064687704726.html
'Eight seats from oblivion': PM picks poll team
September 29, 2003
Prime Minister John Howard today announced a major Cabinet reshuffle -
probably his last before the next election - saying: ``Eight seats is
all that stands between us and electoral oblivion.''
Kay Patterson has been dumped as Health Minister and Communications
Minister Richard Alston cut from the ministry.
Mr Howard made seven cabinet changes as he indicated he was preparing
the government for the next election.
Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott will replace Senator Patterson,
who has battled since taking on the health portfolio after the 2001
election.
Senator Patterson will take responsibility for family and community
services and also become the minister assisting the prime minister for
the status of women.
Long-standing Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock was made attorney-general.
Mr Howard said Senator Alston would retire shortly.
Attorney-General Daryl Williams will replace Senator Alston, while
Family and Community Services Minister Amanda Vanstone will take over
immigration.
Kevin Andrews, promoted at the last poll to Ageing Minister, will become
the workplace relations minister, while West Australian backbencher
Julie Bishop will take on Mr Andrews' post.
Treasurer Peter Costello kept his post, with Mr Howard describing him as
the best treasurer anyone could hope for. Foreign Affairs Minister
Alexander Downer, Trade Minister Mark Vaile, Defence Minister Robert
Hill and Agriculture Minister Warren Truss also remain in place.
Apart from senators Patterson and Alston, the biggest casualty was Local
Government and Territories Minister Wilson Tuckey who has lost his post.
Mr Howard said Mr Tuckey had indicated he did not want to hold a
ministerial post following the coming election.
'Eight seats is all that stands between us and electoral oblivion.'
Mr Tuckey will be replaced by West Australian senator Ian Campbell.
The prime minister said this would probably be the last reshuffle before
the next election which is due by the end of next year.
``I would not anticipate any further major reshuffles between now and
the next election,'' he said.
Mr Howard said the changes were aimed at keeping the government fresh.
``These changes will continue a process of renewal and regeneration,''
he said.
``They will reinforce the government's commitment to its goals for
Australia of national security, economic strength and social stability.''
Mr Howard said he had been mulling over the changes for a week or more.
``It all sort of crystallised recently,'' he said.
Mr Howard said the changes to his ministry would make it a more
effective government, but warned only eight seats stood between the
coalition remaining in office after the next federal election.
``Eight seats is all that stands between us and electoral oblivion,'' he
said.
``I hope people understand that and every opportunity I get I just want
to tell Liberal supporters around Australia, `Don't imagine that we are
some kind of unbeatable or unbackable favourite at the next election'.
``We are not, eight seats and we're out of business.''
He said it was not necessary to create a new portfolio to deal with
security and the threat of terrorism.
He said Australia's current approach to security was effective.
``The more I look at the administrative arrangements that exist in this
country in these areas, compared with those of the United States and the
United Kingdom, I'm satisfied that the arrangement here is as good, if
not superior, to those that operate in America,'' Mr Howard told reporters.
``I don't think the creation of a homeland security department has
simplified the areas of responsibility or clarified the lines of
communication.
``I think our whole of government approach in areas of national security
is quite effective.''
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