For the second time in three months, Prime Minister Julia Gillard has reshuffled her cabinet. In the wake of the recent political dramas and power struggles leading up to the leadership ballot last week, frontbench changes have once again been made.
On Friday, Gillard announced her ministerial reshuffle following the resignations of Kevin Rudd and Senator Mark Arbib and the new federal ministry were sworn in yesterday morning at Government House in Canberra.
These are the outcomes of the ministry reshuffle:
1. Bob Carr, Foreign Affairs Minister designate
2. Kate Lundy, Minister for Sport and Multicultural Affairs
3. Brendan O'Connor, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness
4. Nicola Roxon, Attorney-General , Minister for Emergency Management
5. Kim Carr, Minister for Human Services
6. Craig Emerson, Minister for Trade and Competitiveness
7. Jason Clare, Minister for Home Affairs and Justice, Minister for Defence Materiel
8. David Bradbury, Assistant Treasurer and Minister Assisting for Deregulation
9. Jan McLucas, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
10. Sharon Bird, Parliamentary Secretary for Higher Education and Skills
11. Richard Marles, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs
12. Bernie Ripoll, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer
Surprisingly, Gillard decided to look outside the box for a new Foreign Affairs Minister. Up until the last moment, it was believed that Minister of Defence, Stephen Smith, was favoured and would be reappointed to his former role. Accordingly, it came as a shock when former NSW Premier Bob Carr was announced to take over the foreign affairs portfolio. Bob Carr will be taking Mark Arbib’s place in Senate, however he is yet to be formally appointed by the NSW Parliament.
Kate Lundy is one of two new additions to Gillard’s front bench where she takes on the job as Minister for Sport and Multicultural Affairs, a result of Senator Arbib’s decision to leave politics. David Bradbury is the second newcomer, filling the role as Assistant Treasurer and Minister Assisting for Deregulation, after missing out on a ministerial position in December.
As a Rudd supporter, Kim Carr lost Manufacturing and Defence Material in addition to the Industry and Innovation job he lost year. In spite of the demotion, he was not removed from the ministry altogether. He continues with the role as Minister for Human Services, taking over from Brendan O'Connor. Mr O’Connor entered Cabinet and advanced as Minister for Small Business, Housing and Homelessness.
Attorney-General Nicola Roxon has had Minister for Emergency Management added to her work portfolio, after Rudd-backer Robert McClelland lost this position in a demotion to the back bench. Initially, there was some concern in the Labour party that McClelland would announce immediate resignation and cause by-election.
Queensland Senator Jan McLucas has been appointed as the new Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, in addition to her existing role as Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers. Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare takes on the additional portfolio of Minister for Defence Materiel and Craig Emerson adds Competitiveness to his position as Minister for Trade.
Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Richard Marles, was given a foreign affairs role and Queensland MP Bernie Ripoll is the new Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, while Sharon Bird becomes Parliamentary Secretary for Higher Education and Skills.
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