Hunt moves to Health, Sinodinos takes Science

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has announced a minor reshuffle, following the resignation of Sussan Ley from Cabinet last week.

Greg Hunt will take over from Ley as Minister for Health and Minister for Sport, thus stepping away from his current role as Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science. The Australian Academy of Science has thanked Hunt for his work, with Academy President Professor Andrew Holmes saying the minister made “a number of timely and welcome commitments to science and innovation as drivers of Australia’s economy and social prosperity for the future”.

“His commitment to building international links, including ties to South East Asia and the United States, has positioned Australia’s innovation sector to make a real global impact, and he recognised and affirmed the importance of the CSIRO as Australia’s flagship science and innovation agency,” said Holmes.

“The Academy of Science looks forward to continuing to work with Minister Hunt in his new portfolio on the many pressing challenges in health and medical research.”

The new Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science will be Senator Arthur Sinodinos, who has been Acting Minister for Health and Aged Care and Acting Minister for Sport since Ley’s resignation. Sinodinos was appointed Cabinet Secretary in 2015 following the ousting of Tony Abbott, a role which will return to the Prime Minister’s office as a result of his new position. This will reduce the size of the Cabinet by one.

Professor Holmes has welcomed Sinodinos, saying the senator “brings a wealth of public policy experience to this portfolio that will help translate Australian research in areas such as medicine, clean energy and the basic physical and biological sciences into the economic growth that underpins a strong nation”. He was joined in his praise by the CEO of Science & Technology Australia (STA), Kylie Walker, who said the appointment was an exciting opportunity for the former banker to invest in the work of STEM professionals around Australia.

“We look forward to long-term vision, support and consultation from Minister Sinodinos to ensure STEM professionals can fulfil their potential and ensure Australia’s science and technology remains at the forefront internationally,” Walker said.

“STA is keen to support Minister Sinodinos, Assistant Minister Craig Laundy and their teams in building strong, long-term, whole-of-government, strategic investment in and support for science and technology.”

In addition, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Ken Wyatt will become the Minister for Aged Care and the Minister for Indigenous Health, making him the first Indigenous person appointed to the Commonwealth ministry — though as Hunt remains senior minister in the health portfolio, he will represent the aged-care sector in the Cabinet. Member for Deakin Michael Sukkar has meanwhile been promoted to Assistant Minister to the Treasurer.

The new ministers will be sworn in by the Governor-General in Canberra next Tuesday.

Image courtesy of Alper Çuğun under CC BY 2.0