She’s been “sidelined”, according to some political commentators. It’s an “obvious demotion”, say others.
You’d think Tanya Plibersek had been appointed the “special envoy” for the Indian Ocean (that role was assigned to Tim Watts).
Instead, Plibersek was appointed the new Minister for Social Services during Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s unveiling of his new frontbench on Monday afternoon, moving across from her previous role as Environment Mininster.
Leading social services is hardly a position for “sidelining” someone.
Social services could be described as one of the most consequential portfolios in government. It gives a minister a chance to make a difference to Australians’ everyday lives.
The social services department is tasked with improving the economic and social well-being of individuals, families, and vulnerable members of Australian communities.
It’s where the National Plan to End Gender Based Violence sits, the framework for ending violence against women and children covering prevention, early intervention, response, recovery and healing.
But the department is seen as an “unsexy” one to lead, highlighting just how far we’ve fallen in celebrating work that delivers support to Australians, especially those who are most vulnerable.
This is a department that supports people to get out of violent relationships, to take up new opportunities, to raise children and to access the support they need to get through the day.
It’s a department with plenty of challenges ahead.
But one that’s unsexy to lead? Hardly. Rather, it’s an opportunity for a minister to leave a powerful legacy.
Plibersek has the opportunity to do that now in ways that may support her popularity faster than anything she could ever do with the Environment portfolio, where continuing to support fossil-fuel investments appears to be par for the course, even in a government claiming to be taking strong climate action.
Shortly after Monday’s frontbench announcement, Plibersek posted a video to social media thanking the prime minister and noting that she shares a long history in social services work.
“It’s a portfolio that has enormous opportunities and, of course, serious challenges across the community,” she said, thanking Amanda Rishworth for the work already achieved in the portfolio.
“I’m very much looking forward to getting straight to work on behalf of Australians.”
The shift for Plibersek came after much speculation that the prime minister could have dumped her from the ministry altogether and also following a challenging period for her in the environment portfolio.
Late last year, Plibersek achieved a deal with the Greens to create a national environmental watchdog, following legislation in May that came as part of an election commitment. But the prime minister stepped in and vetoed the deal following lobbying from miners, according to The Guardian in December,
If Albanese had hoped to “sideline” Plibersek as some said he would, he’d taken the wrong approach—shifting her from a largely fossil-fuel-friendly portfolio to one where a great leader, operator, and spokesperson can make a significant difference to Australians.