Prime Minister Scott Morrison has demoted two controversial cabinet ministers and created a new women's taskforce as he attempts to reset his government's response to the culture crisis engulfing federal politics.
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Mr Morrison said he wanted to look at the challenges facing Australian women through a "fresh lens" after weeks of public anger and political pressure sparked by the Brittany Higgins rape allegations.
Mr Morrison and Minister for Women Marise Payne will co-chair a new ministerial taskforce to oversee women's policy, including gender equality, safety, economic security and health.
The announcement has been met with caution from Labor and advocacy groups, who are demanding the government back up their rhetoric with decisive action to improve the lives of Australian women.
Mr Morrison made the announcement on Monday as he unveiled a reshuffled cabinet, which confirmed demotions for Attorney-General Christian Porter and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds to less influential positions.
Mr Porter will move into the industry, science and technology portfolio when he returns from mental health leave on Wednesday, while Senator Reynolds will become the new minister for government services and the NDIS when she returns to work.
Mr Porter has been on leave for his mental health after denying allegations he raped a woman in 1988.
Senator Reynolds is on leave for health reasons, after being admitted to hospital in February to receive treatment for a pre-existing heart condition amid questions over whether she showed an appropriate duty of Brittany Higgins, her former staffer.
Mr Morrison has resisted calls to stand down Mr Porter or conduct an inquiry into a historical rape allegation vigorously denied by the Attorney-General.
However, last week Mr Morrison said he had sought the advice of the Solicitor-General on Mr Porter's position after the first law officer of the land launched defamation proceedings against the ABC for airing the rape claim.
Mr Morrison on Monday described Mr Porter as a "very capable minister", who would apply his "considerable talents" to his new role.
In a statement, a defiant Mr Porter said he had no regrets about launching legal action against the ABC despite it costing him his job.
"Accepting and understanding that commencing defamation proceedings against the ABC now requires my replacement as Attorney-General does not change anything in respect of the crucial principle that required me to instigate defamation proceedings," he said in the statement.
"Given the false claims made about me by the ABC I had no alternative but to launch the defamation proceedings and I have no regrets about taking that course of action."
Mr Morrison also defended Senator Reynolds, who was forced to apologise to Ms Higgins following revelations she called her former staffer a "lying cow" after she went public with her alleged rape.
Senator Reynolds' slur was an "intemperate remark, made at the wrong time for the wrong reasons," Mr Morrison said, before insisting the matter had been resolved.
Her demotion will see Peter Dutton become the new defence minister, while Michaelia Cash will replace Mr Porter as attorney-general and industrial relations minister.
Karen Andrews will replace Mr Dutton as Home Affairs Minister.
In other changes, Melissa Price will return to cabinet, but retain her Defence Industry portfolio, while Stuart Robert will take on the employment, skills, small and family business portfolio.
Jane Hume will be minister for women's economic security, while Amanda Stoker will become assistant minister in the industrial relations and women's portfolios, and Anne Ruston will be minister for women's safety.
Mr Morrison said the reshuffle would bring the strongest-ever female representation in a federal government cabinet.
The most significant change, however, will be the creation of the new taskforce, which Senator Payne - whom Mr Morrison dubbed the "Prime Minister for Women" - said would bring women's policy issues to the "centre of government".
"We know that the last few weeks have been extraordinarily challenging, confronting and difficult for so many people in this country, but none more than those women who have had to deal with or address assault or harassment or inappropriate behaviour in their workplaces, in their communities, in their social life, in their families across Australia," she said.
"Bringing a gender equality lens if you like, to the whole of ministry approach enables us to really focus in on those issues right across government in a way that I have never seen before. I think it's very powerful."
All of the female members of the ministry will sit on the taskforce, along with Mr Morrison, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, Finance Minister Simon Birmingham and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack.
The announcement has been met with a mixed response.
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Gender equity campaign group Fair Agenda said Mr Morrison now needed to deliver real action, which included adopting all of the recommendations from Kate Jenkins' Respect@Work report.
"New people and processes to create the appearance of doing something is not enough. We need actual action that makes a difference to women's lives," executive director Renee Carr said.
"Right now experts on women's safety are calling for: increased prevention, proper resourcing of services and accountability mechanisms, law reform, and action to address workplace sexual harassment.
In a joint statement, Labor's Tanya Plibersek, Linda Burney and Jenny McAllister said the party was willing to support the government, including to develop the next National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women.
"Labor sincerely hopes that the announcements made by the Prime Minister will lead to lasting, positive change for Australian women. It is long overdue," the statement read.
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