Jason Clare will retain the education portfolio after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced his reshuffled cabinet on Monday afternoon.
Tanya Plibersek, who had hoped to secure the education portfolio, was named as Environment Minister, while Michelle Rowland moves from the Communications portfolio to Attorney-General. Other changes include Anne Aly being promoted to small business and multicultural affairs minister, and Amanda Rishworth will take on the Workplace and Employment portfolio.
Minister Jason Clare, Minister Andrew Giles and Jess Walsh keep their respective portfolios of Education, Skills and Training, and Early Childhood Education and Care.
Welcoming Minister Clare’s reappointment as Federal Education Minister, Australian Education Union federal president Correna Haythorpe said that the next term of government has much to achieve for public education to ensure that a high quality preschool, school and TAFE education is accessible to all.
“With Minister Jason Clare and Minister Andrew Giles keeping their respective Education and Skills and Training portfolios, the AEU is reassured that stability and strong leadership will allow the sectors to build on the foundational work already delivered by the Albanese Government,” Haythorpe said.
“Across early education, schools and TAFE, the AEU looks forward to continuing to work with the Albanese Government in delivering a high-quality public education system for all Australians.”
The National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) executive director Jacinta Collins also welcomed Minister Clare’s reappointment and acknowledged the Government’s commitment to maintaining existing funding arrangements for non-government schools.
“These commitments are vital for the 820,000 students and their families in our 1,751 Catholic schools across the country who choose a Catholic education for their children,” she said.
“The NCEC also welcomes the Government’s support for sector-neutral policy development and its inclusion of Catholic education in key initiatives such as the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, the Building the Early Education Fund, and student wellbeing programs.”
The Independent Education Union of Australia NSW/ACT Branch Secretary Carol Matthews congratulated Education Minister Jason Clare; new Early Childhood Education and Youth Minister Jess Walsh; and new Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth on their appointments.
The IEU is urging the federal government to implement its reform program, beginning with a 20% reduction in HECS-HELP debts, which means more than $5500 will be cut from the average early career teacher’s university debt of $27,600.
“Providing new teachers with much-needed financial relief as they begin their career in the classroom is essential to addressing staff shortages,” Matthews said.
“We also call on the federal government to protect all education employees from discrimination by removing special exemptions that allow faith-based schools to discriminate.”