Today I am proud to announce the team Labor will take to the next Federal Election.

 

It is a team of dedicated, talented Labor people that will drive Labor’s policy development and outline Labor’s positive plans for all Australians.

 

This is the team that will continue to hold the Abbott -Turnbull Government to account, as we have successfully done over the last two years.

 

Labor is rightly proud that we have stood up to the Liberals’ unfair Budgets, and forced them to dump the worst Prime Minister in modern history.

 

Labor’s reshuffle comes following the retirement of long-time Labor advocates and true representatives of Queensland, Senator Jan McLucas and Bernie Ripoll.

 

We are proud to welcome two new Labor women to the Shadow Cabinet in Senator Katy Gallagher and Michelle Rowland, bringing the total number to seven.

 

Katy Gallagher will join the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness, and Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader on State and Territory Relations. Katy will also take responsibility for women’s policy within the Shadow Cabinet.

 

Katy brings a wealth of experience to Federal Labor having served as Chief Minister, Treasurer and Minister for Health over her 13 year career in the ACT Legislative Assembly.

 

Malcolm Turnbull’s failure to appoint dedicated Ministers for Mental Health and Housing and Homelessness show the Abbott - Turnbull Government is not capable of tackling these fundamental issues of social justice and productivity.

 

Katy will continue to build on Senator Jan McLucas’ significant legacy of advocacy for people with mental illness and their carers, as well as homeless people.

 

Demonstrating Labor’s commitment to small business, Michelle Rowland will join the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Minister for Small Business, and continue in her role as Shadow Minister for Citizenship and Multiculturalism.

 

Michelle is a fierce representative of Western Sydney, one of the most diverse and economically exciting communities in Australia, and I have no doubt she will bring those insights and her trademark advocacy into the Shadow Cabinet.

 

Michelle will be ably assisted by Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business Julie Owens, who will also become Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education.

 

Labor also congratulates two proud and incredibly talented Queenslanders on their elevation, Jim Chalmers and Terri Butler.

 

Dr Jim Chalmers will become Shadow Minister for Superannuation and Financial Services, Shadow Assistant Minister for Trade and Investment, Shadow Assistant Minister for Productivity and Shadow Minister for Sport.

 

Jim is one of our team’s finest minds, with a wealth of experience in economic policy.

 

Terri Butler will work closely with Katy as Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Child Safety and Prevention of Family Violence, and has also been appointed Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition.

 

Ed Husic will add to his existing Treasury portfolio responsibilities and will be appointed Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Digital Innovation and Startups.

 

I am also pleased to announce that Sam Dastyari will be appointed Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Youth, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition and Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate, a reflection of the significance of education to Labor and of his consistent hard work holding this Liberal Government to account.

 

The entire Labor team will continue to put forward our positive plan for all Australians – for today and the decades to come.

 

An updated Shadow Ministry list is attached.

 

TUESDAY, 13 OCTOBER 2015

 

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