See why this list of Canada’s amazingly diverse cabinet is going viral… and how Australia compares

Canada has really surprised us in the last few weeks, and has shown time and time again why they deserved to be noticed on the world stage. They now have a new Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, who won after the public demanded change.

Yesterday, Mr Trudeau announced his cabinet and the fact that he wanted 50 per cent to be women, simply “because it’s 2015”.

Now, a Canadian woman has taken to Facebook to list everyone in the new cabinet, and their amazing credentials to be in that position.

No sign of mismatched portfolios, over-inflated egos or even multiple portfolios for one person. In comparison, our cabinet looks like a lucky dip – Canada’s seemed carefully worked out to draw on the strengths and diversity of each and every person.

They have Muslim ministers, atheists, one with breast cancer, one in a wheelchair, they have a blind minister, a gay minister – so many people from so many backgrounds. It really makes you wonder how we could change.

Take a look at Canada’s list, and the list we’ve compiled, and tell us, who would you like to see in each portfolio in the Australian Government?

Canada:

For once, Canadians are proud (and perhaps even a little bit smug). We ran the data:

We have a Minister of Environment and CLIMATE CHANGE.
We have a Minister of Immigration, Citizenship and REFUGEES.

Australia:

Minister for Foreign Affairs – Julie Bishop

Julie Bishop was formally a lawyer before moving into politics.

Minister for Employment
Minister for Women
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service – Michaelia Cash

Ms Cash has a Bachelor of Arts with a triple major in public relations, politics, and journalism. She also holds an Honours Degree in Law. She practised in all areas of employment and industrial law including industrial relations, employee relations, occupational health and safety, equal opportunity, executive employment and unfair dismissal.

Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources – Barnaby Joyce

Mr Joyce has a Bachelor of Financial Administration degree, served in the Army Reserve for 5 years, was a farm worker for a short period, and accountant before moving into politics.

Minister for Indigenous Affairs – Nigel Scullion

Before entering the Senate he was a professional fisherman and graduated from the Australian Rural Leadership Program. Nigel is not indigenous.

Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science (Leader of the House) – Christopher Pyne

Mr Pyne has a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice and began practising as a solicitor in 1991. He has been involved in Australian politics since he was 25 and has had a range of different portfolios.

Minister for Social Services – Christian Porter

Prior to entering Parliament, Porter worked as a lawyer for Clayton Utz. He spent a year as an advisor to the Federal Minister for Justice and then began working for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions as a senior state prosecutor.

Minister for Communications
Minister for the Arts – Mitch Fifield

Mr Fifield holds a Bachelor of Arts, served for three years in the Australian Army Reserve Psychology Corps, and was once a Senior Research Officer to the NSW Minister for Transport.

Minister for Health
Minister for Aged Care
Minister for Sport – Sussan Ley

Ley was born in Nigeria to English parents and migrated to Australia when she was 13, has master’s degrees in taxation and accountancy and has been a waitress, cleaner, air traffic controller and commercial pilot, as well as a farmer and shearer’s cook.

Minister for Defence – Marise Payne

Ms Payne has a Bachelor of Arts and Laws, and was the Young Liberal Movement’s first female Federal President and was NSW State President during 1987 and 1988. She also served for 10 years on the NSW Liberal State Executive.

Minister for the Environment – Greg Hunt

Mr Hunt has a Bachelor of Laws (with First Class Honours), and studied at Yale University, where he was a Fulbright Scholar and received a Master of Arts in International Relations.

Minister for Immigration and Border Protection – Peter Dutton

Mr Dutton was a Queensland Police officer for nine years, and worked in the Drug Squad, before leaving in 1999 to complete a Bachelor of Business.

Minister for Rural Health – Fiona Nash

Ms Nash worked as a staff member for National Party federal ministers, and in 2008 was appointed Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Water Resources and Conservation on the Opposition frontbench, but was asked to resign by then-Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull when she showed support for a motion by the Greens to block the introduction of up-front tax breaks for carbon sinks.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
Minister for Human Services – Stuart Robert

Mr Robert served for 12 years in the Australian Defence Force. He then founded the IT services firm GMT Recruitment, and is a founding director of Watoto Australia, which operates one of the world’s largest orphan programs.

It is interesting to note all of our ministers are white Australians, straight (and mostly married), and all fully abled.