Andrews To Lead Drive For Citizens

Sydney Morning Herald

Wednesday January 24, 2007

Lisa Murray

THE Prime Minister, John Howard, is riding the wave of national sentiment before Australia Day, renaming one of his key departments the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

The term "multicultural affairs" has been dumped from the Department of Immigration, as has its minister, Amanda Vanstone.

Kevin Andrews, previously in charge of Workplace Relations, will be the new minister as he moves from selling the Government's most unpopular policy to filling its least coveted post.

Mr Andrews would not be interviewed yesterday, saying only that he was delighted with the job and looking forward to the new challenge. Concerns about his ability to sell the Government's industrial relations laws to voters were said to be behind the move. That job has now been passed on to Joe Hockey, who appears on the Sunday Sunrise TV program once a week with the Opposition Leader, Kevin Rudd.

"In a technical sense Kevin [Andrews] has had an absolute mastery of this legislation, but I think now Joe's particular talents in that area will be very good," Mr Howard said yesterday. Mr Andrews will oversee the Government's planned introduction of a citizenship test, which has fuelled debate about what it means to be a citizen and whether a test would alienate some immigrants.

"The whole purpose of immigration is to recruit more people to the broader Australian family," Mr Howard said yesterday.

"The desired progression is that immigrants become citizens."

The Government has been uncomfortable with the concept of multiculturalism for some time, because it clashes with its preferred policy of assimilation. Mr Howard has said it emphasises diversity rather than unity, and the Treasurer, Peter Costello, last year called for an end to "mushy, misguided multiculturalism".

However, the shift away from multiculturalism and ethnic affairs to citizenship has been happening on both sides of politics for years. The NSW Labor Government renamed its ethnic affairs ministry the Ministry for Citizenship more than six years ago.

The leader of the Democrats, Andrew Bartlett, criticised yesterday's name change. "This is nothing more than an election-year stunt showing up the narrow vision of Mr Howard and his willingness to use shallow nationalism to achieve his fantasy of imposing a monocultural vision on the reality of a modern, multicultural Australia."

The Government's emphasis on citizenship comes amid controversy over the discouragement of Australian flags at the Big Day Out concert.

THE WINNERS

BIGGEST WINNER

Malcolm Turnbull (NSW): Leaps from Parliamentary Secretary for Water straight into cabinet as Minister for Environment and Water Resources. Howard tries to nip a Turnbull and Costello leadership joust in the bud by declaring his support for the latter.

OTHER WINNERS

Joe Hockey (NSW): Moves from a junior post to cabinet as Workplace Relations Minister. Stood in the queue so long he had to be rewarded.

Andrew Robb (Vic): The Parliamentary Secretary is now junior minister for vocational and further education. Like Turnbull, destined for promotion very early in his career.

MINOR VICTORS

Ian Campbell (WA): Loses the glamour Environment portfolio but stays in cabinet by inheriting Human Services which was elevated from the junior ministry. Howard manipulates the system to keep him happy.

George Brandis (Qld): Despite once calling Howard a rodent, promoted from backbench to junior ministry portfolio of arts and sport.

Nigel Scullion (NT): Moves from backbench to junior ministry portfolio of community services.

THE LOSERS

BIGGEST LOSER

Amanda Vanstone (SA): Dumped as Immigration Minister against her will only months after being lauded by Howard as the longest ever serving female cabinet minister. Paid the price for a troubled portfolio and the Prime Minister's need for a vacancy to promote Turnbull.

OTHER LOSERS

Gary Hardgrave (Qld):

Dumped to the back bench from junior ministry position of vocational and further education.

John Cobb (NSW): Demoted from junior ministry to Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment. Rebadged as Assistant Minister.

MUSICAL CHAIRS

Kevin Andrews (Vic): Switches from Workplace Relations to Immigration. A technician, not a salesman, and may find the new job more suited to his dour style.

Christopher Pyne (SA): Changes title from Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing to Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing. No pay rise and still pining for a ministerial berth.

Greg Hunt (Vic) and Teresa Gambaro (Qld): Given new parliamentary secretary positions.

© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald

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