Hume, Wilson to lead Taylor’s economic team, Paterson set for move to defence

Deputy Liberal leader Jane Hume and Goldstein MP Tim Wilson will lead the opposition’s effort to regain the party’s image as better managers of the economy in Angus Taylor’s new-look frontbench.

The new opposition leader revealed his new team in Sydney on Tuesday afternoon, four days after toppling Sussan Ley, and was calling MPs who were promoted during the morning.

Wilson is the new shadow treasurer, while Hume, who is entitled to pick her portfolio as deputy leader, will be the productivity and industrial relations spokeswoman. Both are classic free-market moderates from inner-city Melbourne.

Hume will not hold the finance portfolio that she held alongside Taylor as shadow treasurer last term, when the Peter Dutton-led opposition was panned for its economic offering and the Coalition suffered an embarrassing defeat. The finance spokeswoman will be Tasmanian senator Claire Chandler.

In another key move, Senator James Paterson has shifted from finance to defence, the portfolio held by Taylor before he became leader. Paterson was an important player in rallying support for Taylor to take over.

Ted O’Brien, a Mandarin speaker who was deputy leader under Sussan Ley, will become foreign affairs spokesman and remain in shadow cabinet. Moderate senator Andrew Bragg, another Ley backer, retains the housing portfolio and will take on the role of environment spokesman.

Taylor was still making calls to winners and losers about lunchtime on Tuesday before a mid-afternoon announcement.

A group of ardent Ley backers were cut from the shadow cabinet, including Andrew Wallace, Alex Hawke, Maria Kovacic, Melissa Price, Kerrynne Liddle, and Paul Scarr.