Western Australian MP Melissa Price was announced as the new Shadow Minister for Defence Industry and Shadow Minister for Defence Personnel, taking over from Senator Price.

Senator Price had claimed the federal government was allowing more migrants in from India to skew votes towards Labor, comments which drew sharp criticism from members of her own party such as Alex Hawke and Julian Leeser.

Melissa Price, the Member for Durack, previously served as the minister for the Defence Industry under Scott Morrison, and was also the Shadow Minister for Cyber Security and Science.

“As a former Minister in the portfolio, she brings crucial experience to these responsibilities,” Ley said in a statement.

Price will be replaced by Senator Claire Chandler from Tasmania, whilst Simon Kennedy has also joined the Shadow Ministry in a newly-created role of Shadow Assistant Minister for Artificial Intelligence.

Kennedy replaced Morrison in the southern Sydney electorate of Cook, and has also been handed the shadow portfolios of Digital Economy and Assistant Minister for Scrutiny of Government Waste.

In another shake-up, Senator James Paterson from Victoria has been elevated to the formal Leadership Group of the Coalition, whilst Ley also reaffirmed defeated Bradfield candidate Gisele Kapterian will have a position in her shadow cabinet if her appeal is successful.

Kapterian lost the seat on Sydney’s north shore by 26 votes to teal independent Nicolette Boele, however the Liberal Party have launched an appeal to the High Court of Australia in the Court of Disputed Returns.