Dan Tehan is the new education minister with Simon Birmingham moving to trade in the new government line-up. Former assistant minister for vocational education Karen Andrews moves up to full minister, taking the industry, science and technology portfolio. Her previous responsibilities go to Michaela Cash who is moved to skills and voced. Greg Hunt, a strong supporter of medical research, stays in health.
Mr Tehan is known to be a firm friend to at least one university, he has been co-convenor of the parliamentary friends of Deakin U. Deakin’s Warrnambool campus is in his seat of Wannon and he was active in its defence when Deakin U was considering closing it if no other university wanted to take it over. In 2016, he secured a $14m support package from the government (CMM May 9).
The new ministry is a win for science, which now has a voice in cabinet but “innovation” is nowhere to be seen, a move which could reflect Pconcern that some voters see it as a synonym for “job-destroying technology.” And while the voced community thought well of Ms Andrews policy people will be pleased that new minister Cash is in cabinet.
Reaction: Senior lobby groups were quick with farewells and welcomes last night.
Universities Australia pointed to Mr Tehan’s “strong interest in the nation-building and economy-powering work of universities – especially in our regions but also right throughout our economy.” CEO Catriona Jackson inevitably added UA urged him “to end the economy-damaging university funding freeze and its cap on places.” The ever-polite UA also found something nice to say about Senator Birmingham, despite the cuts on his watch, thanking him for his “engagement with higher education policy detail and his strong support of international education in particular.
The Regional Universities Network was on-form, thanking Senator Birmingham and urging Mr Tehan to use his regional awareness to work on outstanding regional education issues.
Conor King from the Innovative Research Universities thanked Senator Birmingham “for his work during interesting times,” called Ms Andrews “a good choice” but signalled he did not see much hope for change on funding. “We will put the case to move on from the freeze to Dan Tehan. He may see scope for action but most likely the positions remain set through to the election.”
But it was left to the Group of Eight’s Vicki Thomson to put everything in policy perspective; “we have – yet again – new ministers in key portfolios which are crucial to the ongoing success of the university sector – education, trade, industry and immigration. Like many other sectors – we are crying out for stability at the most senior levels of Government and let’s hope this is it.”
But she was pleased with Ms Andrews appointment. “It’s fantastic to see a woman and a former mechanical engineer at that at the helm of the Industry, Innovation and Science portfolio, which really drives our research and innovation agenda. She has demonstrated a strong and genuine commitment to advancing science and innovation – she knows the value of research an innovation to a nation.”
Ms Thomson undoubtedly will make Senator Birmingham’s day by promising to stay in touch on education exports.