Fed: Vanstone has done solid job as minister, says Downer

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-2006
Fed: Vanstone has done solid job as minister, says Downer

CANBERRA, Dec 6 AAP - Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says speculation that Immigration
Minister Amanda Vanstone might lose her job in a ministerial reshuffle is news to him.

Conjecture about Senator Vanstone's future intensified today with the Australian newspaper
reporting that some ministers were moving to have the colourful senator dumped from her
portfolio and from the Cabinet.

It follows speculation that Prime Minister John Howard would reshape his team before
Christmas, in the wake of the Labor leadership change.

"I have no idea whether there'll be a reshuffle or not. That is entirely a matter for
the prime minister," Mr Downer told ABC radio.

"As far as Senator Vanstone is concerned, she's a friend of mine, she comes from South
Australia and I'm a South Australian.

"I think she's done a very solid job as a minister.

"So I have no expectations about Senator Vanstone being demoted."

AAP dep/it

KEYWORD: RESHUFFLE DOWNER

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