Catherine King was this week sworn in for a second term as Minster for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government as licensed pilot and aeroplane owner Sussan Ley was elected leader of the Liberal Party.
King, who has represented the Ballarat electorate since 2004, served in the same ministerial portfolio in the previous government, delivering the ALP's keystone aviation white paper in 2024 and overseeing the construction of Western Sydney International.
"I am honoured to be reappointed the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government in the second term Albanese Labor Government, and I thank the Prime Minister for his continued support," King said.
"In our first three years, we embarked on a transformative agenda to reform commonwealth infrastructure investment and return discipline to investment decisions.
"This included reforming the infrastructure pipeline so Australians can have confidence projects can be delivered when they are promised, and securing new five-year funding agreements with the jurisdictions that require infrastructure investments to be properly planned and costed.
"In transport, we embarked on significant reform to Australia’s aviation industry including reforms to the slot system at Sydney Airport for the first time in 25 years, and landed a record number of bilateral air agreements."
King said that her government would be looking to build on the achievements of their first term in power to create what they believe will be a better future.
"We have a significant agenda for our second term," she said, "including: establishing a robust consumer aviation protection regime, preserving regional aviation and driving competition in the sector; driving productivity in construction and across our supply chains; getting on with Melbourne Airport Rail, fixing Queensland’s Bruce Highway, finishing Western Sydney International, and much more."
Sussan Ley, MP for Farrer in the Riverina district of NSW, is a CPL and owner of a Cessna C182T. Ley worked stints as an air traffic controller and later a mustering pilot in the early 1980s.
She took the leadership made vacant when Peter Dutton was not re-elected for the Queensland seat of Dickson in the 3 May Federal Election.
“It is a huge privilege to be elected as the Leader of the Liberal Party," she said, "and I want to acknowledge every one of my colleagues who’ve given me that opportunity.
"While the significance of the election result is not lost on any of us, I approach this new position with enormous optimism.
"I am committed to listen to the message voters have delivered, and commit the Liberal Party to respect, reflect and represent the views and needs of modern Australia."
Ley was elected leader 29-24 after a party room battle with former Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor on Tuesday.
Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie has retained her portfolio as Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development.