Aged Care Minister Anika Wells promoted to cabinet in Labor reshuffle

Aged Care Minister Anika Wells is one of the major beneficiaries of former Labor leader Bill Shorten’s retirement, as the minister was elevated to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s cabinet.

Key points

• Former Labor leader and current National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) minister will retire on Monday after 17 years in politics
• His resignation creates vacancies in the NDIS and Government Services portfolio with Amanda Rishworth, Katy Gallagher and Dr Anne Aly to take on a share of those duties
• Sports and Aged Care Minister Anika Wells fills the vacant cabinet position and has been elevated from the outer ministry

Mr Shorten, who had already announced his retirement, sprung a late surprise this week when he revealed Monday, January 20, would be his last day: nine days earlier than expected.

He said the early retirement gives Mr Albanese the time to shuffle his ministry well ahead of the looming election. 

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth will inherit Mr Shorten’s NDIS portfolio from Monday, while Finance Minister and Minister for the Public Service Katy Gallagher will be responsible for the Government Services portfolio.

Ms Rishworth’s appointment reportedly aligns oversight of the NDIS with a newly created Foundational Support system for people with disabilities which is already part of her social services portfolio.

Federal, state and territory governments are working together to design and deliver the additional supports that will be available through the program. It will support people outside of the NDIS. 

A summary report from consultations held in 2024 is expected in the first part of the year with some Foundational Supports likely to commence later in 2025.

Dr Aly will become the assistant minister for the NDIS while she will retain her Early Childhood Education portfolio and remain in the outer ministry.

As for Ms Wells, her move to the cabinet recognises her commitment to improving aged care, Mr Albanese said.

“Anika Wells has delivered the most significant reforms on aged care this century with the legislation that passed through both houses of parliament at the end of last year. She has delivered on the commitments that were made,” he said. 

“There is now a nurse in a nursing home, as they used to be called, 99% of the time. There are literally millions of hours of additional care being given to our older Australians who deserve to live their later years with dignity and with respect. 

My government has been determined to deliver just that and Anika Wells has done an outstanding job as the minister, as well as in her sport portfolio.”

There will be an equal split of men and women in the cabinet for the first time thanks to the inclusion of Ms Wells. She has been in politics since 2018 when she won preselection for the Division of Lilley to become the then-youngest female MP at 34. 

The ministers will be sworn in at Government House by Governor-General Sam Mostyn on Monday morning.