News & Views item - October  2004

 

 

Prime Minister Announces New Cabinet; Includes Rejigging of Education, Science and Training Portfolio. (October 22, 2004)

    The Prime Minister, John Howard, announced the make up of his revamped cabinet this afternoon. A full listing of of the appointments is available.

Of particular interest is the announcement that:

The Hon Brendan Nelson MP will be reappointed Minister for Education, Science and Training. He will take responsibility for science matters within the portfolio which will now also be responsible for the income support programmes available to students, apprentices and young people. This reflects the Government’s commitment to a more integrated and proactive approach to the education and training needs of young people. The Government is determined that greater emphasis is to be placed on the value of vocational education and training, with school students given greater assistance from employers to choose the career path to which they are best suited.

 

The Hon Gary Hardgrave MP will be appointed to the new position of Minister for Vocational and Technical Education to oversight the implementation of the Government’s election commitments in the area of skills training including the establishment of 24 new technical colleges. He will work directly with the Government’s industry partners, private and public training providers, and the states and territories in funding and delivery of vocational education.

 

 

[Note: Gary Hardgrave has also been retained as "Minister Assisting the Prime Minister"]

 

 

The Hon Peter McGauran MP will become Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs [swapping with Hardgrave] and will remain Deputy Leader of the House.

The Executive Director of the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS), Bradley Smith, released the following statement:

    Brendan Nelson retains the Education, Science and Training portfolio although the junior ministry will transfer from science to training.
    This change reflects the Government's increased focus on skills  shortages (in the trades, VET sector etc as distinct from shortages in statistics, parasitology, entomology, systematics etc). In one sense this change strengthens science to the extent it will be a cabinet position (previously Peter McGauran was not in cabinet).
    Peter McGauran is moving to Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs (presumably we will have various contacts with Peter over issues of  visa, skilled migration criteria and so forth).
    Ian MacFarlane retains Industry.