JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has made minor changes to his Cabinet, removing the position of a sole Environment Minister and replacing it with an expanded environment and energy portfolio, headed by former Resources Minister Josh Frydenberg.

Greg Hunt will move from the environment portfolio to become Industry, Science and Innovation Minister, while Senator Matt Canavan has been promoted to Resources and Northern Australia Minister.

Queensland Resources Council CEO Michael Roche on Monday lauded the decisions by Turnbull, who won the election earlier this month, noting that to ride through the commodities downturn, the resources sector required “steady safe hands in the face of a relentless green activist campaign”.

“Senator Canavan has already proven to be a champion for the sector in Queensland, in his role as Minister for Northern Australia, and I am confident he will be a strong voice for resources around the Cabinet table.

“I hope that the three Ministers will work together to ensure that barriers to investment in the sector are removed wherever possible to ensure that the significant revenue and jobs from the sector continue to flow,” Roche highlighted.

He further pointed out that the resources sector should be an integral part of rolling out the Turnbull government’s jobs and growth election platform. “In Queensland alone, the resources sector indirectly and directly accounts for one in every five dollars in the economy and one in every six jobs,” he said.

The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (Appea) also welcomed the appointments, noting that the combination of environment and energy into a single portfolio was a “bold move”.

Appea CEO Dr Malcolm Roberts said that the “Holy Grail” of policy was integrated environment and energy policies, which could deliver lower emissions and affordable energy security.

“Environmental policy is often energy policy and vice versa. Frydenberg’s understanding of resources and energy issues will be an asset. Governments have the responsibility of balancing competing priorities to deliver good policy – the Minister understands the policy choices Australia faces as we make the transition to a lower emissions future,” he said.

Roberts further congratulated Canavan on his appointment, noting that he would bring “energy and intellect to his new role”.

“As a Senator representing regional Queensland, the Minister knows firsthand the vital contribution the resources sector makes to regional communities.”

“It is a critical time for the energy sector. As recent developments in South Australia show, we face some challenging transitional issues that require more than just policy posturing. Announcing grand targets and new grants programmes can capture headlines, but is not a substitute for careful – and preferably bipartisan – policy work,” Roberts highlighted.

OTHER CHANGES
Former Industry, Innovation and Science Minister Christopher Pyne was appointed to the new role of Minister for Defence Industry, within the Defence portfolio.

Nationals deputy leader Senator Fiona Nash will add Local Government and Territories to her regional development role, while Kelly O'Dwyer's title will change to Minister for Revenue and Financial Services.

Paul Fletcher will become the Minister for Urban Infrastructure, where he will prioritise the Western Sydney Airport, while Senator Scott Ryan becomes Special Minister of State in the finance portfolio and Dan Tehan becomes the Minister for Defence Personnel, in conjunction with his ongoing role as Minister for Veterans Affairs.

Tehan will also take on the new role of Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Cyber Security.