Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews will replace David Johnston as defense minister as he announced his first changes to the Cabinet. Josh Frydenberg becomes assistant treasurer, replacing Arthur Sinodinos, who stepped down last week.

Health Minister Peter Dutton will take over the immigration and border security portfolio from Scott Morrison, who becomes minister for social services, Abbott told reporters in Canberra on Saturday. Assistant Education Minister Sussan Ley was named minister for health and sport, becoming the second woman in the Cabinet after Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

The Liberal-National coalition is seeking to arrest a decline in opinion poll ratings after introducing spending cuts in May, amid voter perceptions of broken promises.