Incredible, unavoidable: choices blight future

JULIA Gillard's frontbench reshuffle includes two standout errors: one unavoidable, the other unbelievable.

Forget the promotions of the powerbrokers behind the toppling of Kevin Rudd - merit alone justifies those changes even if merit was not Gillard's only consideration.

The twin errors are Rudd becoming Foreign Minister and abolishing the position of education minister. Rudd's appointment was unavoidable, however. A by-election in his Queensland seat could change the government, so he needed to be satisfied.

But Rudd didn't even have the people-skills to keep his job as PM, so what chance does he have of wooing foreign dignitaries? He is a poor candidate.

And while he certainly has a love of international affairs, so what? I have a love of cricket but no one would suggest making me Australian captain.

Consider Rudd's track record to date.

He offended Japan by snubbing it on his first Asian trip.

He offended the Chinese at the Copenhagen conference where, on the wider issue of climate change, he was also thoroughly ineffectual.

He violated the confidence of former US president George W. Bush by divulging the contents of their phone discussion about the G20.

Time spent as a mid-ranking diplomat doesn't make someone suitable to run a country's foreign affairs. Throw in that Rudd will use the position to strut the world stage as if he were still PM, undermining Gillard's authority globally, and I cannot think of a worse person to perform this vital role.

But Gillard had to give it to him.

Unbelievably, and concerning a cabinet decision where she did have options, Gillard decided to abolish the position of education minister.

The much-touted education revolution must not be as important in the second term as it was in the first.

The role has been broken up across a series of ministries - Schools for Peter Garrett, Innovation for Kim Carr and Skills for Chris Evans. But no education minister.

For such a complex policy area to be left without one master - and by a PM who used to be an education minister herself -- will stifle reforms.

Specifically, who is responsible for higher education now?

A spokesperson for Gillard said Carr is, but at a press conference yesterday Evans said that he was. Confusion abounds.

Given that universities teach the teachers as well as the doctors, engineers and many other professionals who underpin our modern economy, you would have thought Gillard would pay more attention to the sector.