// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the Shadow cabinet say? We're behind the government.
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In Australian federal politics, the shadow cabinet is the opposition's equivalent to the federal cabinet. It comprises the most senior figures within the opposition, headed by the leader of the opposition as the counterpart to the prime minister of Australia.
The shadow cabinet is the highest level of the shadow ministry (or "opposition frontbench"), which also includes other less senior shadow ministers (equivalent to the government's "outer ministry") and shadow assistant ministers. The members of the shadow ministry are assigned one or more portfolios, usually though not necessarily corresponding to an existing ministerial portfolio within the government. They serve as the opposition's chief spokespeople on matters within their portfolio, and during parliamentary question time may direct questions at their government equivalent. If the opposition forms government, such as through winning a federal election, it is typical for members of the shadow ministry to retain the same portfolio.
The current shadow cabinet was formed by the Coalition in February 2026, led by Liberal opposition leader Angus Taylor.
Role and functions
[edit]According to Bateman (2008), the shadow cabinet exists as a "recognised component of the parliamentary system" but "the functions, roles and practices of the Shadow Cabinet are far less clear than those of the Cabinet".[1]
The role of the shadow ministry in making opposition policy has varied.[2]
Meetings of shadow cabinet are less formal than actual cabinet meetings, typically lasting a shorter time.[3]
Many of the characteristics of the cabinet also apply to the shadow cabinet, such as shadow cabinet collective responsibility.[4]
History
[edit]In May 1965, the Australian Labor Party Caucus voted to establish a formal shadow ministry of 25 members.[5] This replaced an earlier "opposition executive" consisting of 14 members.[6]
Since 1987, the shadow ministry has had at least as many members as the ministry, and sometimes more. Shadow parliamentary secretaries (known as shadow assistant ministers since 2016) were first appointed in 1990.[7]
Current arrangement
[edit]| Party | Shadow Minister | Portrait | Portfolio | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Hon Angus Taylor (born 1966) |
 |
[8] | ||
| National (LNP) | Hon Matt Canavan(born 1980)
Senator for Queensland (2014–) |
[9] | |||
| Liberal | Hon Jane Hume
(born 1971) (2016–) |
 |
|
[10] | |
| Hon Michaelia Cash
(born 1970) (2008–) |
 |
[11] | |||
| Hon Anne Ruston
(born 1963) (2012–) |
_2025.jpg) |
[12] | |||
| Hon Tim Wilson
(born 1980) (2016–2022, 2025–) |
.jpg) |
[13] | |||
| Hon Andrew Hastie
(born 1982) (2015–) |
 |
|
[14] | ||
| Hon Jonno Duniam
(born 1982) (2016–) |
 |
[15] | |||
| James Paterson
(born 1987) (2016–) |
.jpg) |
[16] | |||
| Claire Chandler
(born 1990) (2019–) |
.png) |
[17] | |||
| Liberal (LNP) | Ted O'brien
(born 1974) (2016–) |
.jpg) |
[18] | ||
| National | Hon Bridget McKenzie
(born 1969) (2011–) |
 |
[19] | ||
| Liberal | Julian Leeser
(born 1976) (2016–) |
 |
[20] | ||
| Melissa McIntosh
(born 1977) (2019–) |
.jpg) |
[21] | |||
| Hon Sarah Henderson
(born 1964) (2019–) |
 |
|
[22] | ||
| Andrew Bragg
(born 1984) (2019–) |
 |
[23] | |||
| Liberal (CLP) | Jacinta Nampijinpa Price
(born 1981) Senator for the Northern Territory (2022–) |
.jpg) |
[24] | ||
| Liberal | Hon Dan Tehan
(born 1968) (2010–) |
 |
[25] | ||
| National | Hon Darren Chester
(born 1967) (2008–) |
 |
[26] | ||
| Hon Michael McCormack
(born 1964) (2010–) |
 |
[27] | |||
| Hon Kevin Hogan
(born 1963) (2013–) |
 |
[28] | |||
| National (LNP) | Susan McDonald
(born 1970) Senator for the Queensland (2019–) |
 |
[29] | ||
| Liberal (LNP) | Phillip Thompson
(born 1988) (2019–) |
.jpg) |
[30] | ||
Salary and benefits
[edit]As of July 2019[update], ordinary shadow ministers were entitled to either a 20 or 25 percent loading on top of the base parliamentary salary. The loading depends on the number of shadow ministers. Officeholders within the opposition receive higher loadings, up to 87 percent for the leader of the opposition.[31] Historically, ordinary shadow ministers received no additional salary compared to backbenchers but were granted an additional staffing allowance.[32]
See also
[edit]- Taylor shadow ministry - current shadow ministry since February 2026
- Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
- Manager of Opposition Business in the House
- Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate
References
[edit]- ↑ Bateman 2008, p. 1.
- ↑ Bateman 2008, p. 4.
- ↑ Bateman 2008, p. 24.
- ↑ "Coalition on brink as Nationals quit shadow ministry". ABC News. 21 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ↑ Bateman 2008, p. 9.
- ↑ Bateman 2008, p. 10.
- ↑ "The (official) Opposition". House of Representatives Practice. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 18 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ↑ "TAYLOR, the Hon. Angus James". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ↑ "CANAVAN, the Hon. Matthew (Matt) James". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
- ↑ "HUME, the Hon. Edwina Jane (Jane)". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ↑ "CASH, the Hon. Michaelia Clare". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ↑ "RUSTON, the Hon. Anne Sowerby". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ↑ "WILSON, the Hon. Timothy (Tim) Robert". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ↑ "HASTIE, the Hon. Andrew William". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ↑ "DUNIAM, the Hon. Jonathon (Jonno) Roy". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ↑ "PATERSON, James William". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ↑ "CHANDLER, Claire". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ↑ "O'BRIEN, Edward (Ted) Lynam". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ↑ "McKENZIE, the Hon. Bridget". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ↑ "LEESER, Julian Martin". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ↑ "McINTOSH, Melissa Iris". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ↑ "HENDERSON, the Hon. Sarah Moya". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ↑ "BRAGG, Andrew James". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ↑ "NAMPIJINPA PRICE, Jacinta". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ↑ "TEHAN, the Hon. Daniel (Dan) Thomas". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ↑ "CHESTER, the Hon. Darren Jeffrey". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ↑ "McCORMACK, the Hon. Micheal Francis". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
- ↑ "HOGAN, the Hon. Kevin John". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ↑ "McDONALD, Susan Eileen". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ↑ "THOMPSON, Phillip Bruce, OAM". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ↑ "Salary". Department of Finance. Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ↑ Bateman 2008, p. 7.
Sources
[edit]- Bateman, Joel (2008). In the shadows: the Shadow Cabinet in Australia (PDF). Australian Parliamentary Library. ISBN 9780980655407. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 March 2012.
