Cabinet Changes Bypass Leisure but Ellis is on the Move
With exception of changes in education, Prime Minister Julia Gillard's new-look Federal Cabinet has left leisure portfolios largely unchanged.
However, at junior ministerial level, Kate Ellis has been moved from her Sport portfolio to Employment Participation and Childcare while Senator Mark Arbib has been given Indigenous Employment, Social Housing, Homelessness and Sport.
For the first time in decades, the Cabinet will not include a dedicated education minister - the portfolio being split between Peter Garrett, who will be in charge of early childhood, schools and youth affairs; and Senator Chris Evans who is the new minister for jobs, skills and workplace relations - a portfolio that now takes in universities and TAFE.
Prime Minister Gillard says she is keeping her promise to create a new department to look after regional Australia and has given Simon Crean the new Regional Affairs portfolio. Minister Crean will also look after Local Government and the Arts.
Health Minister Nicola Roxon and Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson and Industry, Innovation and Science Minister Kim Carr will all remain in their portfolios.
Nick Sherry (pictured) will take on the portfolio and will also be Assistant Tourism Minister while Craig Emerson is the new Trade Minister.
Following Martin Ferguson's re-appointment as Tourism Minister, peak national body, Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) has called for the Minister to focus on the supply-side challenges facing the Australian tourism industry and to take a whole-of-government approach to tourism.
TTF Managing Director Christopher Brown said "it's vital that the government maintains its commitment to the National Long-Term tourism Strategy (NLTS), fostering conditions which are conducive to tourism investment, as well as at the very least maintaining funding levels for tourism marketing."
TTF noted a number of new appointments in the ministry that were of significance to the sector, with Brown adding "Prime Minister Gillard's appointment of Nick Sherry to assist Minister Ferguson in the tourism portfolio is recognition of the industryâs importance to the economy.
"Tourism is also a major regional employer, so we look forward to working with Simon Crean in his new Regional Development portfolio.
"In addition, we welcome Craig Emerson's appointment as Minister for Trade, and are keen to continue our involvement in the development of Brand Australia."
1st June 2010 - HARD-HITTING MESSAGE AT THE HEART OF NEW ANTI-DOPING AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
21st May 2010 - ELLIS RELEASES REPORT ON GENDER, SPORT AND MEDIA
3rd May 2010 - QUESTIONS ON GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO RUGBY
7th January 2010 - STUDY ON DISABILITY PARTICIPATION IN SPORT AND RECREATION
2nd April 2009 - AUSTRALIANS ENCOURAGED TO TAKE THEIR LEAVE
12th August 2008 - TTF’S LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
12th May 2008 - LABOR CHARTS NEW DIRECTION FOR AUSTRALIAN SPORT
