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Anthony Albanese has demoted Tanya Plibersek in his new ministry – but she insists she is happy with her new job as Environment Minister.
Ms Plibersek – who is widely considered Mr Albanese’s closest rival for Labor leadership – has been removed from the education portfolio she held in opposition.
That role has been handed to Jason Clare who was lauded for his expert performances in daily press conferences as Labor’s election campaign spokesman.
Tanya Plibersek is pictured today being sworn in as Environment Minister in Canberra
Anthony Albanese has demoted Tanya Plibersek in his new ministry – but she insists she is happy with her new job as Environment Minister
Jason Clare has been appointed Education Minister in Mr Albanese’s new cabinet
Despite the demotion, Ms Plibersek revealed on Facebook she was ‘delighted’ to have been given the Environment and Water portfolios.
‘I’m delighted to be appointed a Cabinet minister in the new Labor Government with responsibility for environment and water. I look forward to the challenge,’ she wrote on Tuesday night.
‘Australia is lucky to be home to the most beautiful natural environments in the world, which we need to protect and preserve for future generations. Let’s get to work.’
During the election campaign, Ms Plibersek rarely appeared with Mr Albanese and did not attend Labor’s campaign launch in Perth, leading pundits to say she had been ‘sidelined’.
Ms Plibersek brushed off those suggestions, insisting she was campaigning all over the country and regularly appearing on radio and TV.
Ms Plibersek appeared alongside Mr Albanese on May 4 in Melbourne (pictured). But she was mostly campaigning separately from him
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles tried to claim her move from education to environment was not a demotion because Labor is taking the environment more seriously than the previous government.
Asked if Ms Plibersek’s move was a demotion, he said: ‘That’s the last thing I would see it as.
‘I mean that might be how the former government viewed that area of policy, but for us, the environment is front and centre – and it always has been in Labor Governments.
‘And for Tanya it’s been a source of enduring passion, and water as well,’ he told the ABC on Wednesday morning.
But pundits agree there is no question that education is a more high-profile role.
Prime Minister Albanese unveiled his full ministry on Tuesday day after claiming a 77-seat majority in the lower house.
A record number of 19 women were elevated to ministry roles with 13 in the ministry and 10 in the cabinet while Ed Husic and Anne Aly become the first Muslim ministers in Australian history.
The Cabinet is a mix of familiar and new faces, along with a few surprises following Labor’s first post-election caucus meeting in Canberra on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has unveiled his new ministry, which has a few surprises
”It’s a mix of people who have served in the cabinet before, it is the most experienced incoming Labor government in our history since Federation,’ Mr Albanese said.
‘This is an exciting team which is overflowing with talent with people absolutely committed to making a difference as ministers and assistant ministers in my government.’
Mr Marles will take on the defence portfolio as well as the role of Deputy Prime Minister while Penny Wong was announced foreign affairs minister last week.
Katy Gallagher is responsible for three portfolios- finance, public service and women.
Clare O’Neil will be home affairs minister while new face Ms Aly is responsible for child education and youth.
The cabinet features 10 women, including new child education and youth minister Anne Aly
Don Farrell will be trade and tourism minister as well as special minister of state, while Tony Burke will be employment minister.
Mark Butler will assume health in the cabinet, with Chris Bowen being in charge of climate change and energy.
Don Farrell will be trade and tourism minister as well as special minister of state, while Tony Burke will be employment minister.
Mark Butler will assume health in the cabinet, with Chris Bowen being in charge of climate change and energy.
There will be a change of portfolio for Tanya Plibersek, who will take on environment and water, while education will be taken on by Jason Clare.
Catherine King will be in charge of infrastructure, transport and regional development.
Linda Burney will be Indigenous affairs minister, the second Aboriginal person to assume the role.
Tanya Plibersek (pictured) has become the new minister for water and environment
Former opposition leader Bill Shorten will be minister for NDIS and government services, while Amanda Rishworth will be in charge of social services.
Mark Dreyfus will be the new attorney-general, while Brendan O’Connor will be minister for skills and training.
Julie Collins will be housing and homelessness minister, while Michelle Rowland will be communication minister.
Madeleine King will serve as resources minister, Murray Watt as agriculture minister, while Ed Husic is the new industry and science minister.
Another new face, Eden-Monaro MP Kristy McBain will take on the portfolio of regional development and local government.
‘This is a record number (of women), this is the most positive group that have ever been put forward in terms of the cabinet, the ministry and the caucus,’ Mr Albanese said
‘I want to see us move towards 50-50 representation across all of the spectrum.’
Anthony Albanese says his new ministry is overflowing with talent
Among the surprises in the ministry was new face Kristy McBain (pictured)
The ministry will be sworn in by the Governor General on Wednesday.
‘This is a government determined not to waste a single day in office ,’ Mr Albanese said
Labor claimed a 77th seat on Tuesday with incumbent Labor MP Fiona Phillips expected to retain her seat following a nailbiting contest against Liberal candidate and former NSW minister Andrew Constance
‘Today Labor has claimed the 77th seat in the House of Representatives,’ Mr Albanese said.
‘It confirms indeed that Labor will be a majority government when Parliament resumes in July.’
‘It means the Coalition failed to claim a single seat from Labor at the election.’
He conceded it’s a ‘difficult day’ for those who missed out on role on the frontbench, including Shayne Neumann, who was demoted to the backbench.
Australia’s first two Muslim ministers will be sworn in on Wednesday, including Ed Husic
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