Australian prime minister to name more conservative cabinet
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FILE - In this July 10, 2016 file photo, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull speaks at the government offices in Sydney. Turnbull came under pressure from his own lawmakers on Thursday, July 14 to revise his economic agenda after his weakened coalition scraped through one of the nation's closest ever elections. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, File) (The Associated Press)
Australia's prime minister says he will name a more rightwing cabinet next week after his weakened coalition government scraped through one of the nation's closest ever elections.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's center-right Liberal Party lost at least 14 lawmakers in knife-edge polls on July 2, including some of Turnbull's key moderate supporters. The junior coalition partner, The Nationals, gained a lawmaker.
Turnbull said Wednesday that the Nationals' larger representation in his government entitled the more conservative, rural-based coalition partner to two additional seats in his cabinet.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Nationals' increased influence has reduced expectations that Turnbull will pursue a more progressive agenda during the government's second three-year term.
The cabinet will be announced shortly after government lawmakers meet Monday for the first time since the election.