New Shadow Comms Minister, as Coonan sworn in

Federal Opposition Leader, Mark Latham, has unveiled long awaited portfolios for his Shadow Ministry, naming Stephen Conroy as Labor’s new Communications’ spokesperson.

Conroy, who takes over from Lindsay Tanner, is a Victorian senator who was elected in April 1996.

He is the Opposition’s Deputy Senate Leader and has been a shadow minister in numerous portfolios since October 1998: Financial Services and Regulation; Finance, Small Business and Financial Services; Trade and Corporate Governance, Financial Services and Small Business; and Trade, Corporate Governance and Financial Services.

Announcing the key roles for his new look frontbench, Latham says:

“Labor’s task in the coming term is to review our policies, to improve, to listen and learn from the judgement of the Australian people, particularly when it comes to economic policy.

“This is the area where, whether we like it or not, the Australian people made a judgement that our credentials weren’t strong enough.”

Also in Canberra, John Howard’s new Ministry has been sworn in by Governor-General, Michael Jeffery.

Senator Helen Coonan remains Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts and is one of 30 ministers and 12 parliamentary secretaries involved in today’s ceremony.

While the Prime Minister has announced major changes to the public service – to coincide with his new Ministry – three secretaries have had their terms extended, including Helen Williams in Communications.