AUSTRALIAN IMMIGRATION NEWS

Australian PM shows Vanstone the door

Monday, 29 January 2007

In a reshuffling of the Australian federal parliament, Australian PM John Howard has identified new immigration, environment and employment ministers ahead of federal elections later this year.

As a result of the cabinet overhaul, Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone has found herself out of the immigration portfolio, which will now be known as the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (“DIAC”).

Ms Vanstone's department has been involved in a succession of embarrassing blunders in recent years, including the detention and mistaken deportation of Australian citizens.

Despite constant controversy surrounding Vanstone’s term as Immigration Minister, Mr Howard thanked Vanstone for her service as a minister since the election of the Coalition Government in 1996, and as the Immigration Minister since 2003.

"She's a very colourful person who has worked very hard and in a very committed fashion in the various portfolios that she's held."

"She's made a wonderful contribution to the Government and Australia," he told reporters.

In an emotional address, Vanstone said her stay in the immigration portfolio had seen her make some difficult decisions. She stated that she would now take time to consider her next move, making suggestive comments that she may consider leaving parliament before her remaining 5 year term had ended.

"I think after 22 years in Parliament ... 22 good years, incidentally, representing the lovely state of South Australia, and 11 in government as a minister, eight of those in Cabinet, this is a good time for me to start thinking about what I'll do next, and I'll start that process today”.

In the midst of the portfolio transformation, Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews will oversee the makeover of DIMA to Immigration and Citizenship.

Mr Andrews' previous position of Employment and Workplace Relations Minister will be taken over by Joe Hockey."

The new ministers will be sworn in at a ceremony on January 30, Howard said.

Specific changes to DIAC forms and/or checklists will be notified once they are implemented.