Bill Shorten has unveiled what he calls his “dream team”, led by his deputy Tanya Plibersek, to make education the focus of the opposition. Do you think that Bill Shorten will be able to oust Mr Turnbull’s government eventually with his array of ministers?
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Tanya Plibersek, now the shadow minister for foreign affairs, will reportedly move into a new education “super portfolio” which will see her focus on schools and universities. Jason Clare takes Wong’s trade portfolio (now trade and investment) as well as resources and northern Australia, while Michelle Rowland moves into his communications portfolio.
Richard Marles moves out of the contentious immigration portfolio after a challenging term in opposition, in which Labor controversially adopted boat turn-backs and fell further into line with the Coalition’s hard-line refugee policies. Mr Burke, one of Labor’s better performers, moves to environment and water, the arts, citizenship and multiculturalism, jobs he variously held when Labor was last in government.
Mr Chalmers replaces Tony Burke who returns to environment, while also remaining manager of opposition business in the house of representatives.
Mark Butler retains climate change and energy.
A victor from the reshuffle is Victorian MP Richard Marles, presumably promoted for successfully neutralising the asylum seeker issue by clinging so closely to the Coalition. Queenslander Shayne Neumann gets promoted to immigration.
Mr Shorten said he would personally take on the indigenous affairs portfolio, with the ‘father of reconciliation Pat Dodson as his assistant. NSW MP Ed Husic takes employment services and workforce participation under Brendan O’Connor, who retains employment. Louise Pratt, now back in the senate, becomes a junior minister in that portfolio. Senator Conroy will be shadow minister for sport and special minister of State.
ACT Senator Katy Gallagher will be shadow minister for small business and financial services.
‘There are few issues as critical to our nation’s future prosperity than education, which is why I am giving it such a priority, ‘ he said, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. There is also speculation that the health portfolio, now held by Catherine King, may also be shifted to a more prominent Labor figure after that issue was also a major focus for the Labor campaign.
Chris Bowen stays as shadow treasurer, Anthony Albanese keeps transport and infrastructure, Jenny Macklin keeps families and social services, Mark Dreyfus stays as shadow attorney-general with a new national security role as well, and Joel Fitzgibbon stays in agriculture.
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What do you think about Labor’s shadow ministry?
