Australia's two top ministers on Saturday announced their retirement from politics with fewer than 90 days before the general election. Defence Minister Christopher Pyne, considered one of the most moderate politicians in the Morrison administration, announced retirement after 26 years in politics. He said he will not contest polls as he was planning to shift to the private sector.

Minister of Defence Industry Steven Ciobo resigned on Saturday after 17 years in Parliament and said he, too, will not be contesting the election, Efe news reported. Morrison appointed Linda Reynolds, Australia's first female brigadier in the Army Reserve, as new Minister for Defence Industry, and said her appointment took the number of women ministers in his cabinet to seven, the highest number on record.