Anthony Albanese's unveiling of his new-look ministry on Monday not only signalled a push for renewal within Labor's ranks. The announcement, which followed days of headlines about the factional ousting of Ed Husic and Mark Dreyfus, also indicates a shift in the prime minister's priorities for his second term.
The key changes include Albanese’s ally Tim Ayres taking over as industry and science minister, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland becoming the attorney-general. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, whose tenure was marked by controversy over Tasmania’s salmon farming industry and a stalled environmental watchdog, moves to social services. She is replaced by Industrial Relations Minister Murray Watt, a trusted Albanese fixer, while Anika Wells moves into the communications portfolio.
Economist and Victorian MP Daniel Mulino, a Yale graduate, joins the ministry as assistant treasurer and minister for financial services, replacing Stephen Jones. Anne Aly enters cabinet, taking on the small business, international development and multicultural affairs portfolios.
The most unexpected elevation is that of Andrew Charlton — former economics adviser to Kevin Rudd and consulting entrepreneur — who becomes cabinet secretary and assistant minister for science, technology and the digital economy. While the cabinet secretary role lacks a formal voice at the table, it is central to the machinery of government and was previously held by Dreyfus.
