Julia Gillard has come under fire for refusing to elevate the Minister for Small Business, Craig Emerson into Cabinet in her Cabinet re-shuffle today.
Julia Gillard, in keeping the Small Business portfolio out of Cabinet has given the Coalition an opportunity to boast that, if elected committed they will elevate Small Business into Cabinet at the upcoming election.
In announcing her Cabinet re-shuffle after ousting Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister last week, Julia Gillard said she was going for stability in picking her Cabinet team members.
“The premium that I have put in these new ministerial arrangements is on stability,” Ms Gillard said.
Ms Gillard has not kept former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in her Cabinet, wishing to give the Mr Rudd time away from the Cabinet pressure cooker to focus on his family after such a swift defeat in last week’s spill motion, however Kevin Rudd is welcome to return to a senior position after the next election.
“If the government is re-elected, I will be very delighted to welcome Kevin Rudd into the cabinet in a senior position,” she said.
Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan keeps his Treasury portfolio, with Foreign Minister Stephen Smith picking up the trade portfolio alongside his existing responsibilities.
The new Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan remains treasurer and Martin Ferguson stays on as resources minister.
Former Trade Minister Simon Crean will take over the Julia Gillard’s former portfolios of education, employment and workplace relations.
