Greg Hunt appointment to innovation portfolio welcomed

Start-ups are broadly optimistic about Malcolm Turnbull’s latest innovation picks.

The new Minister for Innovation, Greg Hunt.

Australia’s technology start-ups have reacted with broad optimism to the appointment of former environment minister Greg Hunt to the innovation portfolio, after he was announced as Christopher Pyne’s successor.

Mr Hunt will take over as the Minister for Innovation, Industry and Science, previously held by Mr Pyne, who moves to Defence. Meanwhile Craig Laundy replaces former Assistant Minister for Innovation Wyatt Roy, who lost his seat of Longman.

Mr Laundy is the son of NSW hotel baron Arthur Laundy and wife Margaret, who own more than 30 hotels.

Dan Tehan has been appointed to the new role of Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Cyber Security.

StartupAUS CEO Alex McCauley told The Australian he thought Mr Hunt was one of the government’s most experienced and senior frontbenchers.

“This reconfirms that innovation is a top agenda item for the Turnbull government,” he said.

“It’s also good to see the assistant minister position continue; it was new when Wyatt (Roy) took it on.”

Technology incubator ATP Innovations said it welcomed Mr Hunt’s appointment.

“To paraphrase Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, it’s an exciting time to be an incubator, and we’re sure Mr Hunt approaches the portfolio with the same sense of anticipation,” ATP Innovation chief Petra Andren said.

Deputy director of the Melbourne Accelerator Program, Clare Harding, said the ministry announcement should put the prevailing uncertainty to rest.

Meanwhile Michael Jankie, CEO of Wi-Fi start-up PoweredLocal, said it was heartening to see the Prime Minister pick someone with a broad background for the job.

“Greg comes with broad life experience in everything from the law to socialism, fruit picking to steelworks. I’m pretty happy with this, but I will miss Pyne’s humour,” he said.

Mike Pritchett, CEO and co-founder or video production start-up Shootsta said: “While Greg Hunt’s appointment to the innovation portfolio is curious, it will be far more interesting to see what kind of role his deputy Craig Laundy will play.

“The Turnbull government has appointed yet another minister who won their seat on a knife’s edge to a role that connects the start-up sector to the federal government.”