With the Federal Elections underway, Australia has yet to choose new leaders that could lead the nation.

In a move that has caught everyone's attention, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has reshuffled his front bench and introduced a role straight out of another politician's playbook.

The government efficiency portfolio is aimed at streamlining government operations and cutting down on wasteful spending.

The newly-minted concept echoed United States President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency initiative.

At a press conference in Cairns, Dutton announced that MP David Coleman would be stepping in as shadow Foreign Affairs Minister.

MP Coleman will be taking over the retiring Senator Simon Birmingham.

Peter Dutton will be participating in this year's Federal Election. Image Credit: Facebook/Peter Dutton

However, his revelation of the government efficiency portfolio turned many heads.

This portfolio was not an official agency but rather represented a push towards fiscal conservatism and operational streamlining.

Dutton revealed his choice of manager for this portfolio.

He named Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price as his shadow Minister for Government Efficiency on top of her duty as the shadow Minister of Indigenous Australians.

Price has been a vocal opponent of the proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

Her new role could see her applying a similar scrutiny to government spending and efficiency.

During the announcement, Dutton highlighted the perceived excesses of the current government.

'Six billion dollars a year spent on 36,000 new public servants in Canberra that are of no assistance whatsoever to the people of Cairns, and the people of regional communities who want additional investment,' Dutton lamented.

Dutton and his team have positioned themselves as the champions of the taxpayer, as they promised to redirect resources to where they believe they are most needed.

The reshuffle also saw other significant changes, with NSW MP Melissa McIntosh taking over the communications portfolio from Coleman.

Meanwhile, Senator Claire Chandler stepped into government services and the digital economy, and South Australian MP Tony Pasin took on roads and road safety.

In addition, NSW MP Julian Leeser and Senator Matt O'Sullivan have been appointed as shadow assistant ministers in foreign affairs and education, respectively.

Senator Kerrynne Liddle joined in as the shadow minister for Indigenous Health Services, in addition to her roles in Child Protection and Prevention of Family Violence.

Queensland MP Ted O'Brien should now be the shadow minister for Energy Affordability and Reliability, effectively complementing his Climate Change and Energy portfolios.

Lastly, MP Michael Sukkar has assumed the position of Manager of Opposition Business in the House of Representatives.

This reshuffle was more than just introducing new faces and titles; it was a preparation for the coming Federal Election.

'It's time for us to have a change of government in this country, to get our country back on track, and part of that is to rebuild international relations,' Dutton emphasised.

Watch Peter Dutton's full speech here:

Source: Sky News Australia/YouTube​

The introduction of the government efficiency portfolio, in particular, signalled a commitment to fiscal responsibility and a leaner government.

Whether this reshuffle would translate into electoral success remains to be seen.

For now, Dutton and his team's bold moves could redefine their party's image and priorities.

Key Takeaways

• Peter Dutton introduced a new front bench role, the 'government efficiency' portfolio.
• Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price is announced as the shadow minister for the new government efficiency role.
• The new department should reduce government waste, similar to a concept introduced by United States President Donald Trump.
• Peter Dutton also announced several reshuffles in their roles.

What do you think of this new role and the reshuffle? Do you believe that a focus on government efficiency can make a significant difference, or is it just political posturing? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below—we'd love to hear from our savvy seniors on this intriguing political development!

 

[mylittletibbies]

I used to work for the public service and it used to frustrate me, the amount of nothing getting done. But if you were good at your job they piled more and more work on you, because they knew it would get done. We had 1 girl in there and when it came time for her to do certain jobs she would go and get coffee for the Directors and the higher ups and I would have to cover for her. Towards the end of my time there I was doing 4 different jobs for 4 different departments and they wanted me to sit in their area while I was doing it. Needless to say when they were handing out redundancies I had my hand up. The department I worked in transitioned to the NDIS so the reason for the redundancies.

I was at one stage executive assistant to the human resources manager at Hammersley.
At this time they were "normalising" there towns and employees were able to.purchase their homes if they wished.
I had to deal with the Titles Office on a regular basis.
They were the bane of my life. I’m positive when they employed people they ran ads saying "all idiots welcome to apply".
I would spend hours there for things that should have been a quick fix.

 

[Jen61]

To all you Labourites , you were told it wouldn't be easy under Albanese. Should have listened.

It's spelt Labor

 

[Abbie70]

You write this like LNPfail are the Govt. They hate public service and that means less help for The People! Your "reporting" is getting more and more smudging of the truth and more missing the corruption within the LNP.
I am 71 and you do not speak for me. One more chance and I will no longer support this site.
Search for Truth In Reporting. This should be your aim, not this unhelpful one-sided clap-trap.

 

[Jen61]

Of course it’s a good move! The federal public service is very bloated and inefficient, full of high paid employees who add nothing to productivity, but are only there to enforce ideological campaigns like DEI. Time to focus on front line staff and reduce useless high paid managers and executives. Go Peter and Jacinta!

I think you have been brainwashed. Once not so long ago women weren't allowed to work after they got married. A lot people thought women weren't capable because they were women, you seem to have the same attitude to anyone different to you. What are you afraid of?

 

[darrellh]

Everyone is new to public service to begin with. It does not necessarily mean they will be useless though many past politicians have proven to be a total waste of space. But some can do a reasonable job but regardless we are stuck with them which is the unfortunate part. A shame there is not a test to sort the wheat from the chaff.

 

[Abbie70]

I can't speak of today, but when I was young I did a lot of temp office work in many different public service departments.

I could not believe what a slack environment existed in these departments. If private enterprise operated that way they would be out of business.

On one job there were 10 temps. We weren't there to fill in for people who were on holidays, long service etc which was what most temporary work was.

We were there to catch up on the work backlog. While we were there they did a work efficiency assessment.

The temps were putting out more than double the amount of work than their permanent staff who spent half their time swanning around, talking and wasting time. It was obvious many weren't what you would call the most highest skilled workers.

On my dealings with Centrelink today I would say nothing much has.changed.
Over the years I have had three major run ins with them. On two of these occasions I was accused.of fraud. On all cases the error was theirs. Basic stuff ups that shouldn't have been made by a junior office worker but couldn't be sorted out. with some plain.common sense. by the so called superiors in the departments .

Obviously it must be very frustrating for the good workers there. especially the front desk workers who cop the wrath of irate people when they are not the ones making the mistakes.

You do realise LNP were slowly Privatising Centrelink. It is getting worse. Public Service should not be "for profit It must always be in the hands of The Govt NOT companies like SERCO!!

 

[Jen61]

Everyone is new to public service to begin with. It does not necessarily mean they will be useless though many past politicians have proven to be a total waste of space. But some can do a reasonable job but regardless we are stuck with them which is the unfortunate part. A shame there is not a test to sort the wheat from the chaff.

Some people get promoted in the public service because they are good at talking. Often they are incompetent when it comes to doing their job.

 

[Still Ebby]

I agree the public servants at the very top get paid way too much. There has been a push for many years by government that we have to match private sector pay grades to attract the so called best, this had happened under liberal and Labor governments. Out of the last 74 years the Liberals have been in federal government for 50 of those 74 years.

Has the payments been stopped to all the retired politicians like a retired Prime Ministers getting $450.000 a year not to mention the others.Seems a heck of a lot for doing nothing.

 

[mylittletibbies]

You do realise LNP were slowly Privatising Centrelink. It is getting worse. Public Service should not be "for profit It must always be in the hands of The Govt NOT companies like SERCO!!

I agree with you. but public service departments have never worked efficiently under either party.
Privatising doesn't seem to be the answer, things go from bad to worse,.but public service departments need a good shake up and have for many a long year.

 

[Jen61]

At my time of life, it really doesn't much matter which party holds the reins and the purse strings. Some times I think that you can take a member from an opposing party if it's to the advantage of the people, as long as it's not a daft bastard Green or bloody Teal.

Do you care about the environment? David Pocock is a Teal the best non politician like politician we have. Keeping government to account on many issues.

 

[Jen61]

Has the payments been stopped to all the retired politicians like a retired Prime Ministers getting $450.000 a year not to mention the others.Seems a heck of a lot for doing nothing.

It's a rip off of tax payers money. It won't change because most politicians are generally out to fill their own pockets.

 

[Penny4]

I was at one stage executive assistant to the human resources manager at Hammersley.
At this time they were "normalising" there towns and employees were able to.purchase their homes if they wished.
I had to deal with the Titles Office on a regular basis.
They were the bane of my life. I’m positive when they employed people they ran ads saying "all idiots welcome to apply".
I would spend hours there for things that should have been a quick fix.

Well that's a small world. My brother in law drove trains for Hammersley. They owned a house at Karratha.

 

[Leenie]

You do realise LNP were slowly Privatising Centrelink. It is getting worse. Public Service should not be "for profit It must always be in the hands of The Govt NOT companies like SERCO!!

When my daughter was manager of our Centrelink call centre they brought a private company in and they weren’t properly trained, did a lot of stuff ups , she worked there for 21 yrs and was manager for 10 ,she left in disgust as government employees were copping a lot shit because of this private company giving wrong advice.

 

[Leenie]

Has the payments been stopped to all the retired politicians like a retired Prime Ministers getting $450.000 a year not to mention the others.Seems a heck of a lot for doing nothing.

Don’t forget there super ,plus perks for life.

 

[Jen61]

Labor did ,let out illegals to commit more crimes ,and blocked the deportation of criminals from NZ , I support what Trump is trying to achieve,you don’t have to like him ,at least he is trying to fix the mess old sleepy Joe made ,so good luck to him..

I asked if you supported violent criminals being released like Trump is in the US. By the way it was the high court who decided some illegals should be released. Do you want government to enforce laws or courts?

 

[Leenie]

Do you care about the environment? David Pocock is a Teal the best non politician like politician we have. Keeping government to account on many issues.

B/S

 

[bluesbrother]

What we're talking about here is Labor's efforts to attempt to repair the public service i.e. repair our govt after years of disastrous economic mismanagement, misplaced ideological straitjacketing and sheer corruption masquerading as privatisation by the LNP, big media and our oligarchs. Out of control spending on private con jobs by LNP mates taking over public service roles sent us careering into the mess the Libs left us with: impossible housing issues, pay rates left in the dust by galloping inflation, pretend private companies with no oversight, and just plain old incompetence. The fact that public service wait times have decreased by up to 80% for pensioners and others relying on their efficiency, and payments have begun to be restored for some of our dispossessed (though still way below a livable rate), is clear proof that it's working.
USA basic wage meanwhile remains on $7.50hr (many of their poor have 3 jobs and their kids still go hungry), the country is a basket case, and the Trumpster crowd's solution is to deport those workers, not raise their workers' pittance.
Our current gov may have let the rabid Right stupidly pressure their international policies, particularly with military issues, but they are steadily improving life for everyday Australians. The inanity of Dutton and his cohort are still the best electoral arrow in Labor's quiver.

 

[Leenie]

I asked if you supported violent criminals being released like Trump is in the US. By the way it was the high court who decided some illegals should be released. Do you want government to enforce laws or courts?

Yes but useless Labor had no clue just jumped in and opened the floodgates , they were worse criminals than January 6th in US , they are always soft on criminals, they deport decent people and let the worst of society stay in our once peaceful country, high court is full of lefties ,enough said. Amen.

 

[Jen61]

Yes but useless Labor had no clue just jumped in and opened the floodgates , they were worse criminals than January 6th in US , they are always soft on criminals, they deport decent people and let the worst of society stay in our once peaceful country, high court is full of lefties ,enough said.

 

[Jen61]

If the refugees were Jewish would you let them in or are you just prejudiced towards people with dark skin.