James Paterson, Melissa Price, Simon Kennedy promoted in Sussan Ley’s shadow ministry reshuffle after Jacinta Price demotion

Sussan Ley has reshuffled her shadow ministry following the axing of Jacinta Price over the fallout of her comments on migrant Indian communities, while also promoting prominent front bencher James Paterson to the Coalition’s formal leadership group. The Victorian senator, who strongly backed Senator Price’s defection to the Liberal Party room, will join the Opposition Leader and Deputy Opposition Leader and Shadow Treasurer Ted O’Brien in the senior Liberal leadership. Senator Paterson, who is the Coalition’s finance spokesman, joins the senior leadership as Ms Ley is set to give a major economic address to CEDA on Wednesday, in what will be a party reset following the in-party fighting spurred on by Senator Price’s comments. “Along with the deputy leader of the Opposition, Senator Paterson is at the centre of developing our economic agenda and it is appropriate he joins the group as that work takes shape,” said Ms Ley. Senator Price’s claim that suggested Labor was prioritising Indian migrants to boost their vote sparked a week of public Liberal Party brawls that culminated in Ms Ley asking Senator Price to resign after she declined to apologise for her comments and then failed to publicly back in Ms Ley’s leadership. The reshuffle also promoted Cook MP Simon Kennedy, who will join the outer shadow ministry as the shadow assistant spokesman for artificial intelligence, digital economy and the scrutiny of government waste. “Simon is one of the brightest minds in the parliament and is a welcome addition to the Shadow Executive,” said Ms Ley. Durack MP Melissa Price will takeover as Coalition spokeswoman for defence industry, in addition to overseeing defence personnel. The Opposition Leader said that “as a former minister in the portfolio, she brings crucial experience to these responsibilities. The reshuffle also promoted Tasmanian senator Claire Chandler, who will take Ms Price’s shadow portfolios for cyber security and science. “In recent months, Senator Chandler has worked diligently in prosecuting Labor’s national security missteps. She has a deep passion for the subject matter in both these important portfolios. Senator Richard Colbeck will take Senator Chandler’s role as Senate co-char of the Liberal Legislative Committee.