Published on the 04/07/2013 | Written by Newsdesk
Deputy Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been appointed minister for broadband, communications and the digital economy – but for how long…
Last week’s leadership spill, which saw Julia Gillard replaced by Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister, also prompted a switch at the head of the communications portfolio. Anthony Albanese has replaced Senator Stephen Conroy as minister for broadband, communications and the digital economy – at the pointy end of Australia’s national broadband network rollout.
But unlike Senator Conroy – whose sole focus was on the ICT portfolio – Albanese is also leader of the house, deputy prime minister, and minister for infrastructure and transport. His dance card is going to be very full in the lead up to the Federal Election later this year.
In recognition of this workload Albanese is in fact now one of a gang of four appointed to watch over the portfolio. Kate Lundy has been appointed as minister assisting for industry and innovation and the digital economy; Sharon Bird has oversight of regional communications; while Ed Husic takes on the role as parliamentary secretary for broadband.
It’s a smart – albeit large – collection of talent. Albanese this week outed himself on radio as being no tech head, but he has had carriage of communications issues in the House of Representatives in the past and understands the issues. His grip on the infrastructure portfolio also makes him the logical minister as the NBN transitions from being a technical innovation to a core part of national infrastructure as the rollout progresses.
Albanese is also well equipped temperamentally to go head-to-head with Malcolm Turnbull, the opposition spokesman on communications who favours replacing the current fibre to the home NBN plan with a cheaper fibre to the node alternative if elected to government.
Supporting Albanese is Kate Lundy who has a solid understanding of ICT – and had been an advocate for faster broadband even before Stephen Conroy carved out his mark in the field. Lundy’s appointment guarantees technical continuity.
The Competitive Carriers’ Coalition has welcomed the new appointments, as have the individual telecommunications carriers, although the Australian Information Industry Association has remained uncharacteristically silent. This somewhat muted reaction from the ICT sector’s peak body possibly reflects industry’s acknowledgement that with a federal election looming, Albanese and the gang of four have just a few short weeks to prove themselves, and that relationships with an even newer set of political leaders may need to be wrought by year’s end.
