Three Australian ministers leave, Howard shuffles government

December 20, 2000
Web posted at: 8:40 AM HKT (0040 GMT)

SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) -- Australian Prime Minister John Howard announced a major reshuffle of his conservative government's frontbench on Tuesday after the resignation of three senior ministers ahead of elections due in late 2001.

In the most high profile change, industrial relations reformer Peter Reith -- once seen as a possible contender for prime minister -- will take over from long-serving John Moore in the key portfolio of defense.

"The departure from the ministry of three senior, long-serving colleagues will result in a significant restructuring of the ministry," Howard told reporters in Sydney.

Senator Amanda Vanstone will replace Jocelyn Newman, who quit the welfare portfolio of family and community services to return to the backbench.

And Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Minister John Herron would step down, with Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock taking on his responsibilities.

Howard said junior minister Tony Abbott would take over Reith's industrial relations portfolio.

Reith drove industrial relations reforms for Howard, including during an often bitter waterfront dispute in 1997, but his ambitions as a future leader were hurt this year by a scandal over the misuse of his government telephone card.

Howard said he hoped Reith would bring the same strong attitude to his new portfolio, where he will be charged with implementing a defense force overhaul.

"I would anticipate that he will bring the same rigor and balance to defense," Howard said. "I will of course be taking a close interest in defense, as I did previously."

Moore, who has been in national politics since 1975, will quit politics early next year after recently overseeing a review of Australia's defense force.

Howard said this month the defense review white paper would result in Australia boosting defense spending by A$23.5 billion (US$12.7 billion) over the next 10 years to revive its flagging military and play a wider regional peacekeeping role.

Australia led a U.N.-mandated force into East Timor in 1999 after pro-Jakarta militias went on a rampage of violence following a vote for independence from Indonesia.

The intervention soured relations with Australia's near neighbor Indonesia.

Howard has vowed to lead his coalition government to the next election, due in October 2001. Treasurer Peter Costello remains firmly in the picture as Howard's likely successor.

Newman said on Tuesday she planned to leave the ministry for the backbenches. She led the government's main welfare portfolio for the past five years and last week announced tough new guidelines for welfare recipients.

Moore's decision to leave politics will force a by-election for his seat in Queensland state early next year.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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