Many of the ministers who served under John Howard return, with just Julie Bishop the only woman in the 19-person cabinet.
Four of the 11-person outer ministry are woman, and Concetta Fierrvanti-Wells is the only parliamentary secretary, demoted from the outer ministry.
Tony Abbott said that he thought the situation might change with women from the outer ministry “knocking on the door” of the cabinet.
However, interim Labor leader Chris Bowen seized upon the state of affairs.
“The cabinet of Afghanistan now has more women in it than the cabinet of Australia,” said Bowen.
Labor’s outgoing cabinet featured six women.
Abbott’s cabinet is largely unchanged from his shadow ministry with Senator Mathias Cormann being moved to assistant treasurer.
Nationals deputy leader Barnaby Joyce has been awarded the agriculture portfolio, and Peter Dutton is minister for Health and Sport, the first time the post has been given a cabinet position.
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