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Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy has been promoted into federal cabinet under a series of ministerial arrangements.
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Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese announced the changes to the cabinet and to the ministry on 28 July.
Under changes to security and defence industry, former assistant minister for defence Matt Thistlethwaite has been moved to a role as assistant minister for immigration.
Pat Conroy, Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery and Minister for International Development and the Pacific, has been promoted into federal cabinet.
Luke Gosling has been appointed special envoy for defence, veterans’ affairs and Northern Australia.
“Pat Conroy will move into the cabinet as the Minister for Defence, Industry and Capability Delivery, Minister for International Development and the Pacific,” a public statement from Prime Minister Albanese said.
“Pat also, he goes into cabinet, obviously AUKUS, both Pillar I and Pillar II are critical. Pat’s 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.
“He will join Richard Marles, of course, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence as cabinet ministers.”
Former minister for home affairs and minister for cyber security Clare O’Neil has been moved to a role as Minister for Housing and Minister for Homelessness.
Tony Burke has been appointed Minister for Home Affairs, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Cyber Security, Minister for the Arts and leader of the house.
Andrew Charlton has been appointed special envoy for cyber security and digital resilience while Peter Khalil has been appointed special envoy for social cohesion.
“Luke Gosling, of course, is a veteran and will provide support as a special envoy for defence, veterans’ affairs and Northern Australia,” Prime Minister Albanese said.
“We know as a result of the Defence Strategic Review, there is more and more happening in Australia’s North. As the Member for Solomon and as a former veteran, we think that Luke is well positioned to be able to provide advice there. And Andrew Charlton will be the special envoy for cyber security and digital resilience.
“This will be a special task that I’ve discussed with Andrew, as well as with Tony Burke, the Minister for Cyber Security, and with Michelle Rowland, the Minister for Communications, 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.
“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. Andrew Charlton is a great thinker and he’s someone who I wanted to step up in this role.
“These combined changes, I think, represent a significant move forward. I would expect that this is the team that I will take to the election when it is held sometime in the future.”
In other ministerial changes, Julie Collins has been appointed Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Small Business; Senator Murray Watt has been appointed Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
Senator Malarndirri McCarthy has been appointed Minister for Indigenous Australians, Andrew Giles appointed Minister for Skills and Training, Senator Jenny McAllister appointed Minister for Cities and Minister for Emergency Management, Patrick Gorman appointed to Assistant to the Prime Minister, Assistant Minister for the Public Service, and Assistant Minister to the Attorney-General.
Ged Kearney has been appointed Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care and Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health, Senator Tim Ayres has been appointed Assistant Minister for a Future Made In Australia and Assistant Minister for Trade; Senator Anthony Chisholm has been appointed Assistant Minister for Education, Assistant Minister for Regional Development, and Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Kate Thwaites has been appointed Assistant Minister for Social Security, Assistant Minister for Ageing, and Assistant Minister for Women; Josh Wilson has been appointed Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Julian Hill has been appointed Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs.
