New Ministry: Jobs, Investment And Early Childhood

The Andrews Labor Government will strengthen its focus on creating jobs, attracting investment and ensuring every child gets the support they need to get the best start in life with changes to the ministry announced today.

Premier Daniel Andrews today unveiled the new team, which sees Ben Carroll enter the Cabinet and take on the important portfolios of Industry and Employment, continuing the work done by Wade Noonan to manage the transition of the auto industry and ensure workers across the state are supported to retrain and find new jobs.

Having previously served as Parliamentary Secretary for Justice, Ben will continue to put people first and ensure more Victorians have the security and dignity of a job, and provide industries with the support they need.

With the Federal Liberal Government threatening to hold Victoria to ransom over gas and penalise us financially for banning fracking, Treasurer Tim Pallas will take on the Resources portfolio to stand up for Victorian farmers and ensure Victorians aren’t short-changed on GST.

Tim will oversee the work led by Victoria’s Chief Scientist to investigate the potential for any onshore conventional gas exploration in the future – ensuring the work is driven by science not ideology.

To ensure we continue to attract the biggest and fastest-growing companies and the brightest people from around the world, Philip Dalidakis will become the new Minister for Trade and Investment, bringing new jobs, investment and business to Victoria.

Philip will also take on the new portfolio of Innovation and the Digital Economy to continue to drive Victoria’s digital technology sector and further Victoria’s global reputation as a tech hub.

Jenny Mikakos will add a new portfolio of Early Childhood Education to her existing portfolios of Families and Children, and Youth Affairs, to ensure every Victorian kid is ready for kinder, ready for school and ready for life.

Jenny will continue to build on the Government’s ground-breaking Early Childhood Reform Plan – a $202 million investment in Victoria’s children.

Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews

“The new Ministry strengthens our focus on the things that matter most – creating jobs, standing up for Victorians and ensuring every child has every opportunity to reach their potential.”

“Ben Carroll will do a tremendous job fighting for Victorian workers and supporting our industries and businesses and I congratulate him on the new role.”

“Whether it’s investing in kinders to give every child every chance in life, or supporting our auto workers to transition into new jobs, we’re putting people first.”