I thank the Prime Minister for appointing me Minister for Small Business and Minister for Housing and Homelessness in the Gillard Cabinet.
It is an immense privilege to serve a Labor Government in any capacity, and I have been honoured to serve as Minister for Human Services. While my time in this portfolio was brief, I am proud of Labor’s record in helping disadvantaged Australians through tough times and back into the workforce, particularly in the challenging area of homelessness. I look forward to continuing that work in my new portfolio of Housing and Homelessness.
I am also pleased that the importance of Small Business to the Australian economy has been recognised with its elevation into Cabinet for the first time. These are challenging times for the 2.05 million small businesses, which make up about 96 per cent of all businesses in the Australian economy, and it is fitting that they have a voice around the Cabinet table. I welcome the opportunity to build on the work of Mark Arbib and his predecessor Nick Sherry in cutting red tape for these vital businesses which employ more than 4.5 million people.
I have also been honoured to serve as Minister Assisting for School Education, and have valued the time that teachers, parents and students in a variety of schools have shared with me over the past few months. It is crucial that we get the funding for students with disability right, and this work will be continued by Minister for School Education Peter Garrett.
Minister Garrett will have an increased focus on students with disability, particularly in light of the recommendations of the Gonski review of school funding. He will work closely with Jan McLucas in her role as Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers to ensure that the needs and aspirations of students with disability, and of their parents, carers and teachers, are properly represented throughout the consideration of the Gonski recommendations.
I would like to thank Mark Arbib for his work as Minister for Small Business and Robert McClelland for his work as Minister for Housing and Homelessness, and I congratulate Senator Kim Carr on his appointment as Minister for Human Services.