The key portfolios of education, skills and training each have a new minister thanks to the appointments made by the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese.
Tanya Plibersek, who held the portfolio in the Opposition and will now transfer to Environment and Water, has been replaced as Minister for Education by Jason Clare, who acted as Labor’s spokesperson throughout the election campaign. Clare was appointed to his position after the election outcome.
Brendan O’Connor, a senior frontbencher for the Labor Party, has been given the role of Minister for Skills and Training.
Under the leadership of Minister Tony Burke, the skills and training portfolio will become a part of the newly formed Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
The new Minister of Defense is Richard Marles, who formerly served as the Opposition’s Minister for Employment.
Both Mr. Clare and Mr. O’Connor have served as experienced ministers in the governments of both Mr. Rudd and Ms. Gillard.
Mr. Clare held the positions of Minister for Defence Materiel, Minister for Home Affairs, and Minister for Justice throughout his tenure in government. Mr. O’Connor was appointed to a number of different portfolios throughout his time in office, including those dealing with Housing, Immigration and Citizenship, Small Business, Employment, Human Services, Home Affairs, and Skills and Training.
Ed Husic has been appointed to his new position as Minister of Industry and Science. Anne Aly has been tapped to serve as the nation’s new Minister for Youth and Early Childhood Education. It has been announced that Senator Anthony Chisholm would take up the role of Assistant Minister for Education and Assistant Minister for Regional Development.
As a result of the most recent changes to the Machinery of Government, many people working in the vocational education and training (VET) sector will now have to deal with two distinct ministries. These changes effectively separated the responsibility for education and skills.
The existing Department of Education, Skills and Employment will be transitioned into two new departments: Education, and Employment and Workplace Relations. These new departments will take on present responsibilities.
School education, youth affairs and transitions, higher education, international education, research funding, and early childhood education are some of the sectors that will fall under the purview of the Department of Education.
Employment policy, labour market programmes, skills and vocational education policy regulation and programmes, vocational education and training in schools, apprenticeships, training and skills assessment, and foundation skills for adults will all fall under the purview of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.