Deputy Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been announced as the new Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy; replacing Stephen Conroy, who left the position when Prime Minister Rudd returned to power last week.
Albanese will now be responsible for the rollout of the NBN, which sort of fits in with his other portfolio which he will retain – Infrastructure and Transport. Rudd’s choice for Albanese as communications minister is a safe pick, given that he was the Communications Minister representative in the House of Representatives (Conroy is a Senator, so could not answer questions on the NBN).
Joining the team will be Kate Lundy, who becomes the Minister Assisting the Digital Economy (in addition to Industry and Innovation and being the Minister of Multicultural Affairs), while Ed Husic – known for launching the IT Pricing Inquiry – will join the ministry as the Parliamentary Secretary for Broadband.
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