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Tony Abbott to spend weekend considering cabinet reshuffle

This weekend could be the time that Prime Minister Tony Abbott decides to clear the 'barnacles' from his cabinet and start 2015 with a new team.

Mr Abbott is reportedly going to spend the weekend mulling over his frontbench and he is considering his options.

He is looking into whether he should keep Senator Arthur Sinodinos in his current role or whether to move the well-respected politician into a different job.


A source revealed to Fairfax Media that if Mr Abbott decided on the fate of Senator Sinodinos this weekend then that would open the doors to a larger cabinet reshuffle.

The source told Fairfax Media: "The threshold question is Arthur.

Senator Johnston enjoys the protection of Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and any move against him could evoke tension between the PM's office and Ms Bishop. Photo: Getty Images
Senator Johnston enjoys the protection of Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and any move against him could evoke tension between the PM's office and Ms Bishop. Photo: Getty Images

"Once you lift the lid things change. The PM doesn't want Arthur to be in the mix but he is."

A decision on the future of Senator Sinodinos was the "first piece in the jigsaw ... it could be one in, one out," report Fairfax Media.

Government insiders told Fairfax Media that no final decision has been made on if the reshuffle will happen this weekend.

The Prime Minister reportedly prefers a "one in, one out" reshuffle that could see a less known politician rising through the ranks such as Josh Frydenberg or Steve Ciobo.

Discussions about the reshuffle were put back because of the Sydney siege this week but the Prime Minister is reportedly in favour of smaller changes now working towards a bigger change at the end of next year ahead of the election.