Rudd rewards backers, Crean departs

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Rudd rewards backers, Crean departs

Switched to Rudd: Bill Shorten.Switched to Rudd: Bill Shorten. Photo: Andrew Meares

Last-minute Rudd backer Bill Shorten has been rewarded in the new look ministry, adding school education to his existing workplace relations portfolio.

Kevin Rudd unveiled his ministry in Newcastle on Monday as former trade and regional Australia minister Simon Crean – who was tipped to secure a spot in Mr Rudd’s new frontbench – announced he was quitting politics at the upcoming election.

Simon Crean's election challenge soon overshadowed the adoption apology.Former Labor leader Simon Crean to quit politics. Photo: Andrew Meares

Mr Shorten, who dramatically changed his support from Julia Gillard to Mr Rudd before the leadership ballot last week, will now have responsibility for the school funding reforms.

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While Brendan O’Connor, a Gillard supporter, loses the immigration portfolio to Tony Burke, he will take an element of Mr Shorten’s old responsibilities – employment – along with skills and training.

Other Rudd backers have also been rewarded in the new-look ministry.

Carbon tax policy change will have "significant budget implications": Climate Change Minister Mark Butler. New Climate Change Minister Mark Butler. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Joel Fitzgibbon has been made Minister for Agriculture, while Ed Husic and Alan Griffin have been made parliamentary secretaries to the Prime Minister, with Mr Griffin also taking on the role of Cabinet Secretary.

The reshuffle comes after a raft a ministers – including Greg Combet, Stephen Conroy, Peter Garrett, Craig Emerson and Joe Ludwig – quit their positions in the wake of the Labor leadership ballot last Wednesday.

Chris Bowen has already been sworn in as Treasurer and Anthony Albanese as Deputy Prime Minister following the resignation of Wayne Swan.

Mr Albanese will take on responsibility for the NBN as Minister for Communications and Broadband. He retains his infrastructure and transport portfolio.

“This is a large set of responsibilities for a man with a prodigious work ethic and a heart for all Australia,” Mr Rudd said.

Mr Rudd told reporters in Newcastle on Monday that the core task of government was to “keep the economy strong”.

“I have assembled today a strong economic team, one with vastly more experience and vastly more competence than those we face opposite,” he said.

Along with Mr Bowen as Treasurer, Penny Wong keeps her position has Finance Minister.

Assistant Treasurer David Bradbury picks up financial services and superannuation from Mr Shorten.

Another key Rudd backer, Kim Carr, rejoins cabinet with responsibility for innovation, industry, science, research and higher education.

In another significant change, with Mr Burke, the former environment minister, taking on immigration, Mark Butler swaps mental health for climate change, environment, heritage and water. Mr Burke will, however, keep the arts portfolio.

Another key Rudd supporter, Richard Marles will enter cabinet as the Minister for Trade – taking over from Mr Emerson, who is also quitting politics.

Mr Marles had earlier quit his role as Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs after the March leadership ballot.

On Sunday, Fairfax Media reported that the announcement of the new cabinet and outer ministry was delayed as Mr Rudd was not able to fill some crucial roles as quickly as he hoped. Labor sources said a number of ministerial offers were refused and efforts were poured into coaxing some key Gillard ministers back into cabinet.

On Monday, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said Mr Rudd’s new look team “is not even the B team, it’s the C team”.

In a surprise move, Home Affairs and Justice Minister Jason Clare has been moved to the outer ministry and loses the Cabinet Secretary role.

Mr Clare, who has been touted as a future Labor leader, was only recently promoted to cabinet.

Kate Lundy – a strong support of Ms Gillard – loses the prized sports portfolio to Senator Don Farrell. Ms Lundy keeps multicultural affairs and will be minister assisting for the digital economy (a new role) as well as minister assisting for innovation and industry.

The new ministry will be sworn-in at Government House at 2pm Monday.

Crean quits politics

When announcing the line-up, Mr Rudd acknowledged Mr Crean’s departure and his contribution to politics.

The former Labor leader joined Stephen Smith, Ms Gillard, Mr Garrett, Mr Emerson and Mr Combet in deciding not to contest the upcoming election.

Mr Crean has been on the backbench since March this year, when he unsuccessfully called on Mr Rudd to challenge then prime minister Ms Gillard.

Mr Crean, who served as opposition leader between 2001 and 2003, stood in last week’s ballot for the deputy leadership, but lost to Mr Albanese.

Mr Rudd said he had spoken to Mr Crean on Sunday.

“He has been an extraordinary leader in our movement for a long time,” Mr Rudd said.

Mr Crean said he had turned down an offer to serve in Mr Rudd’s new cabinet.

“I welcomed that, but I indicated to him I had come to the decision not to contest the next election and he should take that into account,” he told Fairfax Radio on Monday.

“I left him essentially the option to use the position to regenerate or if he needed me to plug a gap until the election I was happy to.”

Six women in cabinet

Three women have been promoted to cabinet in Mr Rudd’s reshuffle.

Julie Collins joins cabinet as Minister for Housing and Homelessness, and Catherine King will retain the regional portfolio.

Jacinta Collins also joins cabinet as Minister for Mental Health and Ageing.

The promotion of Ms King, Ms Collins and Senator Collins bring the total number of women in cabinet to six, with Senator Wong, Jenny Macklin and Tanya Plibersek.

”This will the largest number of women in the Australian cabinet in history, and the same for the ministry at large,” Mr Rudd told Channel Seven on Monday morning.

Asked if he made the appointments because he feared a backlash after he deposed Australia’s first female prime minister last week, Mr Rudd replied: ”These are women who are strong, professional, highly experienced and they are there exclusively on their merit.”

Ms Macklin keeps families, disability reform and indigenous affairs and Ms Plibersek adds medical research to her responsibility for health.

with AAP

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/rudd-rewards-backers-crean-departs-20130701-2p5zl.html#ixzz2XkO2LeCR

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