The Aged Care portfolio is remaining out of Cabinet in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s first ministry as former Shadow Minister Clare O’Neil receives a surprise transfer to another role.

While Mark Butler retains his Health and Aged Care position in Cabinet, the dedicated Aged Care portfolio has been handed to Lilley MP Anika Wells (pictured), who was a vocal advocate for aged care and a frequent critic of the Morrison Government’s policies relating to the sector while in Opposition.

Ms Wells – who has worked in the aged care sector, and whose mother was an aged care worker for two decades – will also take on the Sport portfolio, making her role very similar to that of Senator Richard Colbeck in the previous Parliament.

Ged Kearney, former secretary of the Australian Nursing Federation, has been appointed Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, while Clare O’Neil – despite serving as Shadow Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services prior to the election – has been moved from the portfolio into Cabinet, taking on Home Affairs and Cyber Security in the absence of Kristina Keneally, who lost her bid for the House of Representatives seat of Fowler.

Announcing his ministry on Tuesday night, Prime Minister Albanese described the team as “overflowing with talent”.

“It's a mix of people who have served in the Cabinet before, it is the most experienced incoming Labor Government in our history since Federation. And I think that will augur well for how the Government functions,” he said.

New Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler (pictured) has experience in the position, having served as Minister for Mental Health and Ageing in the Gillard Government between 2010 and 2013 and as Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing since early 2021; under his previous tenure as Minister for Ageing, the Gillard-Rudd Labor Government implemented the Living Longer Living Better reforms.

His appointment, as well as those of Anika Wells and Ged Kearney, has been welcomed by the aged care sector, with interim Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA) CEO Paul Sadler saying the election had brought “the need for ambitious action for older Australians and for greater respect and better pay for aged care workers” into the spotlight.

“We look forward to working with the new Ministers to ensure older Australians get the care they deserve, workers are better paid and respected, and there is immediate action on much-needed sector reforms, as outlined by the Royal Commission.

“The care economy was at the heart of the Labor pitch for the election and it should be top of its agenda in government. We’d also like to see the aged care portfolio be a dedicated role elevated to a Cabinet level,” he said.

The sector has called on Labor to make aged care a priority for its first 100 days in office.