Exclusive: Bronwyn Bishop returns as minister for ageing

The government will today announce that Mitch Fifield is handing over responsibility for aged care in order to focus on the NDIS, with former minister Bronwyn Bishop set to return to the ageing portfolio.

Australian Ageing Agenda can reveal that the Prime Minister Tony Abbott will later today announce the Assistant Minister for Social Services Mitch Fifield will hand over responsibility for aged care as he seeks to focus solely on the current rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Senator Fifield has been the minister responsible for aged care since the Coalition was elected in 2013, at which time aged care was moved from the Department of Health to the Department of Social Services.

And, in a move that will surprise long-time industry observers, AAA has also learned that Mr Abbott will announce that Bronwyn Bishop, former aged care minister, will step down from her current role as Speaker of the House of Representatives to take on the aged care portfolio. Ms Bishop last served as Minister for Aged Care from 1998 to 2001.

Senator Fifield said he was disappointed to be moving from aged care, saying he would miss the NACA briefing papers and persistent calls from peak body CEOs.

“It’s been good, but Tony has made a captain’s call. We thought he was finished making those – but he likes to surprise,” he said.

Ms Bishop told AAA that she was delighted to have been “tapped on the shoulder” by Mr Abbott.

“Obviously I was tremendously popular in the sector the last time I was minster, as I was affectionately referred to as ‘minister for caged hair’. I look forward to catching up with all my old sparring partners when I do the rounds,” she said.

In other news, AAA can also report that today is 1 April.

April Fools!