Tanya Plibersek won't be ignored

All eyes were on Tanya Plibersek today

All eyes were on Tanya Plibersek today

A little over 15-hours after discovering she had lost responsibility for education and women in a shock role shake-up, Tanya Plibersek sent a vivid message in her yellow power suit as she was sworn-in as the new water and environment Minister.

She's not going to shrink into the shadows.

Eyebrows were raised on Tuesday night when Plibersek (who is widely considered Anthony Albanese's leadership rival) was stripped of the education portfolio she had held for many years while in opposition where she has developed a lot of policy and good relationships with state and territory education ministers around the country. It was a move, sources tell The Oz, which completely blindsided her.

That portfolio responsibility was handed to Jason Clare, who you may remember from the election campaign for his zingers such as "it's time to fire the liar".

And, in a further blow, Plibersek will no longer have carriage over the women portfolio, which has been given to finance and government services minister, Katy Gallagher.

Just hours after receiving a phone call from the prime minister, in which Albanese broke the news to her, Plibersek tweeted she was thrilled with her new responsibilities as water and environment Minister.

They will include looking after issues such as environmental protection rather than global warming, which climate minister Chris Bowen will take care of.

"I'm delighted to be appointed a Cabinet minister in the new Labor Government with responsibility for environment and water. I look forward to the challenge," she wrote.

"Australia is lucky to be home to the most beautiful natural environments in the world, which we need to protect and preserve for future generations. Let's get to work."

I’m delighted to be appointed a Cabinet minister in the new Labor Government with responsibility for environment and water. I look forward to the challenge. pic.twitter.com/HMvT5uc92E

— Tanya Plibersek (@tanya_plibersek) May 31, 2022

Plibersek has a strong public profile having been in politics for more than 20 years. She also served as deputy to former Labor leader Bill Shorten for six years. 

Bad blood between Albanese and Plibersek was first hinted at during the election campaign when she was conspicuously absent from major events such as Labor's campaign launch in Perth, leading political observers to say she had been 'sidelined'.

But Plibersek brushed off the suggestions at the time, insisting she had been campaigning all over the country and keeping up regular media appearances.

Here's Anthony Albanese when asked who's idea it was to put Tanya Plibersek in the environment ministry. pic.twitter.com/x5OXXtBHum

— Kath Sullivan (@KathSully) June 1, 2022

Asked about the switch-up on Tuesday night, the prime minister said it was his view Plibersek was someone who could "get things done" and would be outstanding in her new roles, especially on the highly contentious Murray Darling River Basin. 

But some questioned whether a city MP - irrespective of their abilities - would ever fully grasp the complexities involved with governing a water system that largely runs through regional communities. 

As environment minister she will be responsible for approving resources projects that may not go down too well with her progressive constituents in Sydney.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles on Wednesday claimed Plibersek's move from education to environment was not a demotion because the Albanese government was taking the environment more seriously than its predecessor.

"That's the last thing I would see it as," he told the ABC. "I mean that might be how the former government viewed that area of policy, but for us, the environment is front and centre - and it always has been in Labor Governments and for Tanya it's been a source of enduring passion, and water as well."

But Labor sources agreed education was a more high-profile role than what Plibersek had been given.

Others suggested the environment portfolio could be beneficial to a high performer like Plibersek.

They said the move could be part of a long-term play by Labor strategists to stave-off any future threats from the Greens in inner-city seats such as Plibersek's own seat of Sydney. 

At the election, despite being a popular MP for the seat of Sydney, the Labor party suffered a 1.6% swing against them toward the Greens.

However, those claims seem like a long bow to draw.

Plibersek still holds the seat of Sydney on a comfortable margin of 18.7% but being in charge of the environment portfolio wasn't enough to save its former caretaker (former Labor MP Terri Butler) from a political push by the Greens.

But whatever the case for the demotion, sources said Plibersek was in her "political prime" and had no plans of stepping-away from politics any time soon. 

And, if the response on Plibersek's instagram are anything to go by, her social media followers are thrilled with their new water and environment minister.

"Such an important portfolio. Our environment has been far too neglected for far too long," one wrote. 

"I am so excited to have you in this portfolio - the most important thing we have is the environment and water," another said.