Tasmanian Liberal senators Richard Colbeck and Jonathon Duniam have both been promoted to Prime Minister Scott Morrison's new ministry - a reward to the state for swinging to the Liberals at the ballot box a week ago.
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Following the Morrison government's stunning against-the-odds re-election on May 18 - which saw the Coalition enjoy a 3.9 per cent swing in Tasmania and wrest Bass and Braddon from Labor - the prime minister has re-calibrated the Coalition's ministerial line-up.
The Devonport-based Senator Colbeck, who was elected to the parliament in 2002, has been handed not just one but several fully fledged portfolios: aged care, youth and sport.
"It is an important time in these portfolios, particularly with the aged care royal commission underway and the need to support senior Australians in their later life," he said in a statement.
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"There is always plenty to do in the area of sport and I look forward to continuing the Liberal-National government's focus on local and community sport, including the booming area of female participation.
"I am also delighted to take on the role of Minister for Youth, to support Australia's next generation to make the most of the exciting opportunities our country has in the coming years."
Senator Colbeck, 61, said he looked forward to working closely with Health Minister Greg Hunt to improve youth mental health outcomes across the nation.
"It is pleasing to see Tasmania's success at the election recognised with a ministry and also the appointment of Senator Duniam as an Assistant Minister," he said.
"My heartiest congratulations to Senator Duniam and the entire Tasmanian team who worked so hard for the strong result we achieved at the election."
Senator Colbeck has held parliamentary secretary and junior ministry positions under all of the past four Liberal prime ministers. Most recently, he was made Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources shortly after Mr Morrison became prime minister in August last year.
He had previously been Tourism Minister in former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's first ministry but lost his seat at the 2016 election due to being relegated to an unenviable position on the Liberal Senate ticket in Tasmania.
Senator Colbeck filled the casual Senate vacancy left by ex-President of the Senate Stephen Parry in late 2017. Seen as a moderate, Senator Colbeck was the only Tasmanian Liberal senator not to sign the fateful letter that set in motion Mr Turnbull's downfall.
The 36-year-old Senator Duniam, a graduate of Marist Regional College in Burnie and the son of Waratah-Wynyard deputy mayor Mary Duniam, will now be the Assistant Minister for Regional Tourism, as well as the Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries. He will also be Deputy Manager of Government Business in the Senate.
"Our regions are central to the success of our economy and I look forward to working with three industries that are key economic drivers," Senator Duniam said in a statement on Sunday.
"As a younger Australian, it is pleasing to be selected to serve and I hope to bring a fresh perspective to grow and enhance these industries.
"While I very much look forward to the challenges of this new role, I will continue to work hard to serve the people [of] Tasmania as my first priority."
Senator Duniam was formerly Premier Will Hodgman's deputy chief of staff and is understood to have been a key behind-the-scenes player in the Liberals' state election victory in 2014.
Senators Colbeck and Duniam's fellow Tasmanian Liberal senator, Eric Abetz, was once Employment Minister under former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, but was demoted upon Mr Turnbull's rise to the prime ministership.
He congratulated his colleagues following Mr Morrison's announcement on Sunday afternoon.
"It's pleasing to see Tasmania have greater representation in the ministry and I am confident that Richard and Jonno will do a good job," Senator Abetz said in a statement.
It's pleasing to see Tasmania have greater representation in the ministry.
- Tasmanian Liberal Senator Eric Abetz
"I look forward to working with all my colleagues to advance Tasmania's interests."
Senator Abetz was known to have been unhappy about his being ousted from the ministry in 2015 and ended up voting for conservative Queensland Liberal MHR Peter Dutton in the leadership spills in August last year.
Lyons Labor MHR Brian Mitchell pointed out that while two Tasmanians had been added to the ministry, none had been appointed to cabinet.
"Scott Morrison has demonstrated his contempt for Tasmania by failing to appoint a Tasmanian to his cabinet in [the] reshuffle of the federal ministry," Mr Mitchell said.
"Scott Morrison's failure to appoint a Tasmanian to cabinet means Tasmania will remain locked out of the room when the big decisions are made.
"Despite now having seven Tasmanian Liberals to choose from, Scott Morrison clearly believes none is good enough to be a cabinet minister."