Australia's new environment minster of Slovenian descent
Canberra, 1 June - Australia's new government was sworn in Canberra on Wednesday with a record number of women in ministerial roles, including Tanya Plibersek as minister for the environment and water. Plibersek was born in Sydney to Slovenian immigrant parents.
Sydney, Australia
Tanya Plibersek, an Australian of Slovenian descent, becomes minister for environment and water in the Anthony Albanese government.
Photo: Wikipedia
Local media have reported that Plibersek, 52, who had previously served as the he shadow minister for education and shadow minister for women, had initially been tipped for the education portfolio, but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese "demoted" her to the environment.
She is reported to be widely considered as Albanese's closest rival for the leadership of the Labor Party.
However, in a post on her Facebook profile on Tuesday night, Plibersek said she was "delighted" to be appointed a minister for environment and water in the new Labor government and was looking forward to the challenge.
"Tanya is someone who can get things done. She's an experienced former minister as well as a former shadow minister," Albanese said during a press conference on Tuesday according to a report by Sky News Australia.
Albanese's will be the first Labour government in Australia since 2013.
Under Labor Prime Minister Julia Gillard in 2010-13, Plibersek served as minister for housing and minister for the status of women (2007-10), minister for human services and minister for social inclusion (2010-11) and minister for health (2011-13).