Media Statement - 29th November 2007
Today I have selected a Ministry to meet Australia's future challenges head on.
I will be presenting my Ministry to the Governor-General for swearing in on Monday 3 December 2007.
During the election campaign I outlined our plans for Australia’s future - plans on education, climate change, the water crisis, the state of our hospitals, infrastructure bottlenecks and fair and flexible workplace laws.
The team I will be presenting to the Governor-General for swearing in on Monday will deliver those plans for Australia’s future.
Deputy Labor Leader Julia Gillard will drive Labor's Education Revolution. Australia needs a first-class education system and Ms Gillard will be responsible for delivering it. Ms Gillard will also be responsible for bringing fairness and flexibility back into the workplace.
As the Minister for Education, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, and Minister for Social Inclusion, Ms Gillard will help drive Australia’s productivity and participation agenda.
The Australian economy faces serious inflationary challenges that have been ignored for far too long. To address these inflationary challenges and to start investing in Australia’s long-term economic prosperity, I have selected a first class core economic team.
Joining Ms Gillard will be Wayne Swan as Treasurer and Lindsay Tanner as Minister for Finance and Deregulation. For the first time, Australian businesses will benefit from a Cabinet Minister responsible for reducing regulations - not just creating them.
For 11 years, the Howard Government failed to take decisive action on climate change and Australia’s water crisis. That is why a Rudd Labor Government will appoint Senator Penny Wong as Australia’s first Minister for Climate Change and Water. As a Cabinet Minister, Senator Wong will drive Australia’s international climate change negotiations and be responsible for the establishment of Australia’s first national emissions trading scheme.
Peter Garrett will be Australia’s Minister for
the Environment, Heritage and The Arts. Mr Garrett will work with
Senator Wong as the Minister for the Environment. Mr Garrett will
bring great drive and energy to the Environment Ministry.
Anthony Albanese and Stephen Conroy will become
part of Labor’s economic team to help fight inflation in the Australian
economy. They will be responsible for addressing the chronic
underinvestment in Australia’s infrastructure and broadband. Mr
Albanese will be appointed the Minister for Infrastructure, Minister
for Transport and Regional Development, and Minister for Local
Government. Senator Conroy will become Minister for Broadband,
Communications and the Digital Economy.
To ensure rural and regional Australia has a voice at the Cabinet Table, I have appointed Tony Burke as Minister Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Mr Burke will do a great job representing the bush.
Senator Kim Carr will be Australia’s first ever Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. Innovation is the key to Australia keeping ahead of our competitors and Senator Carr will be responsible for ensuring Australian business has the support it needs to deliver an innovative future for Australia.
Simon Crean will be appointed to the key role of Minister for Trade. Australia needs to strengthen and broaden its trade performance and Mr Crean will be a central figure in achieving this goal.
Chris Bowen as Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs, Craig Emerson as Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors and the Service Economy and Minister Assisting the Finance Minister on Deregulation, Senator Nick Sherry as Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Governance, Martin Ferguson as Minister for Resources and Energy and Minister for Tourism, and Brendan O’Connor as Minister for Employment Participation will help drive Labor’s economic agenda.
The time has come for the Australian Government to step up to the plate and take responsibility for improving Australia’s 759 public hospitals. As the Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon will take the lead in delivering improvements to Australia’s health and hospital system.
Jenny Macklin will become Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Tanya Plibersek will be Minister for Housing and the Minister for the Status of Women. Senator Joe Ludwig will become Minister for Human Services.
There is no higher duty than defending the national security of Australia and the personal security of Australian families.
Stephen Smith will be Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs. Joel Fitzgibbon will serve as Australia’s Defence Minister. Senator Chris Evans as Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. Robert McClelland will serve as Australia’s Attorney-General. As a Minister for more than 16 years in the New South Wales Government, Bob Debus will be appointed the Minister for Home Affairs.
Alan Griffin will serve as Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Warren Snowdon will become Minister for Defence Science and Personnel.
Senator John Faulkner will be appointed Special Minister of State and the new position of Cabinet Secretary. Senator Faulkner is one of Labor’s most experienced pair of hands and will ensure Cabinet is productive and decisive. He will also hold the Government to the highest standard of accountability through the role of Special Minister of State.
Today Labor introduced a new generation of first-class parliamentarians to the executive of the Australian Government. Justine Elliot as the Minister for Ageing and Kate Ellis as the Minister for Youth and Minister for Sport have been promoted to the Ministry. These two young and talented Ministers are among the stars of Labor’s future.
The following Members and Senators will serve as Parliamentary Secretaries: Maxine McKew, Greg Combet, Mike Kelly, Gary Gray, Bill Shorten, Bob McMullan, Duncan Kerr, Anthony Byrne, Senator Ursula Stephens, John Murphy, Laurie Ferguson and Senator Jan McLucas.
The Swearing in will begin at 9.30am on Monday.
NOTE: Details are in the PDF under 'donwloads' on this page.