THE Australian Prime Minister elect, Mr John Howard, yesterday named a streamlined ministry, substantially revamping his former opposition team and delivering on his election pledge of smaller government.
In his first action since ending 3 years of Labour rule in a landslide election win on March 2nd, Mr Howard abolished two government departments and named six new faces to a ministry and cabinet smaller than the outgoing Labour government's.
Mr Tim Fischer (49), who heads the National Party, the Junior partner in the Liberal National government, was named Deputy Prime Minister and
Trade Minister.
The new Foreign Minister is Mr Alexander Downer (44), a former junior diplomat and Mr Howard's predecessor as Liberal leader.
Mr Howard's Liberal Party deputy, Mr Peter Costello (38), was appointed Treasurer, and former farmers' lobby chief, Mr Ian McLachlan Defence Minister.
Mr Downer immediately reaffirmed the coalition governments commitment to, boosting economic and political links with its booming Asian neighbours.
"My first priority will be to reassure east Asian governments of the new Australian government's commitment to our region and to reverse any damage to Australia's image created by the Labour Party's persistent and malicious misrepresentations about the coalition's approach to working with our regional partners," Mr Downer said in a statement.
The ousted Labour foreign minister, Mr. Gareth Evans, and prime minister, Mr Paul Keating, both said during the election campaign that a conservative government would ignore Asia in preferencc to Britain and the US.