Universities Australia welcomes the new Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries following the Prime Minister’s announcement today.

Chair of Universities Australia, Professor Glyn Davis, said “We are pleased to continue working with Minister Chris Evans under the newly expanded Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education. We have worked closely with Minister Evans since he became responsible for higher education portfolio in September 2010, and in that time we have seen him drive many important post-Bradley reforms aimed at strengthening our sector.

“We welcome Minister Combet to this new Department and look forward to developing a close relationship with him as Minister for Industry and Innovation, as similarly we look forward to working with his Parliamentary Secretary Mark Dreyfus MP. While we are saddened to see Minister Carr leave the Science, Research and Innovation portfolio, we are confident that the progress he made will continue. A number of our universities will of course continue to have the pleasure of working with Minister Carr in his new Ministerial role.

“We echo the views of the medical sector in welcoming the appointment of Ms Tanya Plibersek as the new Minister for Health, along with Catherine King MP as Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing. Both well understand the importance of higher education as they preside over electorates with a strong higher education presence, most significantly the University of Sydney and Ballarat respectively.

“Finally, we also welcome Sid Sidebottom MP as Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry – an area of importance to a number of universities throughout the country and particularly within his home state of Tasmania.”