Defence Industry minister Pat Conroy has been elevated to Cabinet in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s ministerial reshuffle announced on Sunday, underscoring the central importance of government’s AUKUS-related industrial development initiatives.
Mr Conroy’s new Cabinet position as Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery – as well as his ongoing role as Minister for International Development and the Pacific – reflects the increased level of investment in strategic tech, from nuclear submarines to quantum computing.
“Pat [Conroy] has been an important member of our National Security Committee and I’ve made the decision that this area is such an important area of delivery, that it’s worthy of two Cabinet ministers,” Mr Albanese said.
“He will join Richard Marles, the deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, as a Cabinet minister.”
The big winner in the reshuffle was the government’s leader in the House Tony Burke, who was promoted from Employment and Workplace Relations to land the super-portfolio of Home Affairs, Immigration, Cybersecurity and the Arts.
Former Home Affairs minister Claire O’Neil remains in Cabinet but has been bumped down to Minister of Housing and Homelessness.
Senator Tim Ayres was given a bump, from Assistant Minister for Manufacturing to Assistant Minister for Future Made in Australia. He also remains Assistant Minister for Trade.
The Prime Minister called the promotion a change of title, but said it reflects a broader remit for Senator Ayres, with the Future Made in Australia a cross-portfolio responsibility and a central plank of the government’s policy agenda.
The reshuffle also acknowledges backbencher Andrew Charlton, who has been given the new role of Special Envoy for Cyber Security and Digital Resilience, working across portfolio’s with both Tony Burke as Cybersecurity minister and Communications minister Michelle Rowland.
“This will be a special task that I’ve discussed with Andrew [Charlton] … about where Australia and indeed the world is going on the range of issues with technology changing the way that we relate to each other, the way that our entire society functions,” the Prime Minister said.
“This is something that requires someone away from the day-to-day activity to give thought to how Australia positions ourselves to not only avoid some of the bad consequences which are there, but also sees the positive opportunities which are there as well,” Mr Albanese said.
“Andrew Charlton is a great thinker and he’s someone who I wanted to step up in this role.”
Mr Albanese said the Future Made in Australia agenda was at the centre of the government’s agenda and that Tim Ayres’ changed role reflected priority profile of that initiative.
High-performing Senator Jenny McAllister has been promoted into the outer ministry into the newly-created tech-heavy role as Minister for Cities and Emergency Management.
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