Ministry transformation: Anika Wells departs aged care, new faces inherit imminent reform
Published on 12 May 2025
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed his new-look ministry on Monday afternoon, with Anika Wells’ departure from the Health and Aged Care portfolio one of the biggest shake-ups.
Minister Wells becomes the Minister for Communications, while retaining her Sports portfolio.
Sam Rae, the member for Hawke, will take over the portfolio, now named Aged Care and Seniors. Minister Rae, 38, was first elected at the 2022 election. He was previously the Victorian State Secretary for the Labor Party and a partner at consultancy firm PwC.
Labor’s new-look cabinet
The following announcements have been made, which will affect aged care and disability sectors:
- Mark Butler – Minister for Health and Ageing, Disability and NDIS
- Anika Wells – Minister for Communications and Sport
- Jenny McAllister – Assistant Minister for NDIS
- Sam Rae – Minister for Aged Care and Seniors
- Rebecca White – Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Indigenous Health and Women
This will be the largest Australian Labor Party (ALP) caucus in history since federation, with the Prime Minister stating that it’s “a caucus brimming with capacity, talent and energy in both the House of Representatives and the Senate”.
Labor currently holds 92 seats in the House of Representatives.
“As a result of that, it is an extraordinary opportunity for ministers,” Prime Minister Albanese said.
“For the entire caucus going forward to put in place the agenda that we put forward positively to the Australian people, and an ambitious agenda to change this country for the better,” he said.
“I am deeply humbled by the trust that was put into my government with the election and we certainly won’t take it for granted.”
Ageing Australia congratulated Mark Butler on his reappointment, alongside Sam Rae’s elevation to the Aged Care portfolio, before thanking Anika Wells.
“We wish Anika Wells the best of luck with her new responsibilities. We worked closely with Anika and the opposition to garner rare bipartisan support for the new Aged Care Act in the previous term of parliament. We know she truly cares for older Australians and thank her for her support,” Ageing Australia CEO Tom Symondson said.
Minister Wells’ departure from the Aged Care portfolio is a major shake-up after she helped steer the sector through the vast majority of recent reform. She leaves just weeks before a new Aged Care Act arrives.
Instead, her focus will be on a new social media ban for under 16s, and also preparations for the 2032 Olympics in her hometown of Brisbane. Prime Minister Albanese said he wanted ‘some continuity there’.
He went on to say that he’s made changes that put ‘the right people in the right places’ including ensuring that ageing and aged care are aligned with health.
Minister Rae benefited the most from a shock reshuffle that saw senior ministers Mark Dreyfus and Ed Husic dumped from cabinet. He was one of three new additions thanks to a reported close alignment with deputy PM Richard Marles.
Minister White brings experience to the Assistant Minister’s role, although she will be split across three assistant roles. A former state leader of the Tasmanian Labor Party, Minister White resigned from state parliament this year, comfortably elected as the federal member for Lyons
NDIS joins Health and Aged Care
Minister Butler’s oversight expanded with the addition of disability and the NDIS following the retirement of Bill Shorten in February.
When asked about the change, with a reporter stating that Mr Shorten’s departure is a loss of a firm advocate and hardline leader, Prime Minister Albanese said he was focused on getting ‘everything in the right spot’.
“Mark Butler has a great interest in this area, has had an interest for a long period of time. Jenny McAllister has shown in the work she’s done in emergency management in a short period of time she is someone who has a capacity to have a great attention to detail,” he explained.
“That is precisely what is required when it comes to the reform of the NDIS. We want to make sure the NDIS fulfils what its intention was, that everyone has the best opportunity to contribute to Australian society and that people with a disability don’t get left behind.
Senator McAllister contested her first federal election in 2001, but has held a senate position since 2015.
She was appointed Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy in 2022, before a 2024 reshuffle saw her take on Minister for Emergency Management and Minister for Cities.
“We want to make sure there isn’t some of the activity that we’ve seen that Bill Shorten began making sure some of that waste and inefficiencies weren’t there because that’s not serving the people with disabilities,” Prime Minister Albanese added.
“I’m very confident that Mark and Jenny are ideally suited to perform that task.”