PM Julia Gillard Revamps Cabinet, Albanese Gets Crean’s Portfolio
As expected, Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced on Monday her cabinet revamp after Thursday's leadership challenge dare made by senior Labor Minister Simon Crean.
Right after running unopposed, Ms Gillard had sacked Mr Crean, while Ministers Chris Bowen, Martin Ferguson and Kim Carr had resigned, while Parliamentary Secretary Richard Marles, chief whip Joel Fitzgibbons and whips Ed Husic and Janelle Saffin also quit their respective posts.
On Monday, one of the known supporters of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd - who backed out of the ALP leadership ballot - Leader of the House Anthony Albanese was promoted with the addition of Mr Crean's Regional Development portfolio to his functions.
Other new appointments are that of Gary Gray as concurrent Resources and Energy Minister, Tourism Minister and Small Business Minister, Jason Clare as Home Affairs Minister and Justice and Cabinet Secretary and Don Farrell as Science and Research Minister.
Tony Burke added Arts to his current portfolio while Greg Combet added the functions of Industry and Innovation Minister to his climate change job. Craig Emerson kept his Trade, Competitiveness and Asian Century Policy roles and at the same time became Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research Minister, while Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus was appointed Special Minister of State and Public Service and Integrity Minister.
While Ms Gillard admitted being appalled by the events on Thursday, she urged Labor members to focus their eyes on the nation and not themselves.
Mr Albanese has been criticised for not resigning together with other Rudd supporters, but Ms Gillard defended her decision, saying, "He has been very central to the life of this government and I believe he will serve very well and with a strong sense of loyalty into the future."
The prime minister also appointed Andre Leigh, Matt Thistlewaite, Michael Danby, Bernie Ripoll, Amanda Rishworth and Shayne Newmann as parliamentary secretaries.