Swearing in as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications

It was an honour – and quite an experience – to be sworn in yesterday as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications.

There were 42 people sworn in yesterday as members of the Abbott Government Ministry.  These comprised the 19 members of cabinet (including of course Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, Treasurer Joe Hockey and Minister for Communications Malcolm Turnbull), all of whom are known as ‘Cabinet Ministers’ or ‘Ministers’; the 11 members of the outer Ministry (for example, Marise Payne, Minister for Human Services) who are also known as ‘Ministers’ but are not members of Cabinet; and then 12 parliamentary secretaries (of whom I am one.) 

As well as being sworn in to our respective roles, several of us were also sworn in as members of the Executive Council.  Under the Constitution, there is no mention of the office of Prime Minister or of Cabinet.  However there is mention of an Executive Council which advises the Governor-General.  Hence all Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries are also automatically sworn in as members of the Executive Council.  Most of the 42 had previously been members of this body and were not required to be sworn in again – but a handful of us were becoming members of this body for the first time.  In practice, being a member of the Executive Council requires you to carry out some tasks to assist the machinery of government.  For example, the Executive Council meets to formally ratify certain actions of government. 

There was certainly a sense of dignity and occasion about yesterday’s swearing in, held as it was in the magnificent Government House, the Governor-General’s official residence in Canberra.  Those of being sworn in were permitted to bring along guests, and hence there was a lovely family feel about the day, with many proud parents, partners and other family members – including quite a lot of children.  (They managed quite well in staying seated for over an hour; after the ceremonial parts were over they were able to race around on the sweeping manicured lawns which run down from the front of Government House to Lake Burley Griffin.)

All of us present were conscious of lots of hard work ahead – but nevertheless it was pleasing to participate in this formal ceremony under which we were formally assigned our respective responsibilities.

The Governor-General conducted the event immaculately but managed at the same time to be warm and encouraging to each of us – quite a feat!  I must admit that it felt slightly surreal to be participating in an event I had so often seen on television or in press photographs. 

Now it is time to get down to work – and I am certainly looking forward to assisting Malcolm Turnbull, the Minister for Communications, in the important work ahead, particularly in dealing with the mess we have inherited with Labor’s NBN, and working to implement our plan for a more rational, cost effective and timely rollout.  Of course, this is only one part of the broad Communications portfolio, and I am sure there will be much to do.