The Labor Government has appointed Tony Burke as its new Arts Minister after long-standing incumbent Simon Crean was sacked following last week's aborted leadership coup.
The new Arts Minister has also backed Creative Australia Cultural Policy, which was announced by Minister Crean earlier this month. "It's an honour to implement it as Arts Minister," he tweeted.
Simon Crean produced an inspiring cultural policy in Creative Australia.It's an honour to implement it as Arts Minister. #auspol
— Tony Burke (@Tony_Burke) March 25, 2013
The announcement of Prime Minister Julia Gillard's new cabinet was prompted by Crean calling for a leadership spill, however, the move backfired when former prime minister Kevin Rudd refused to stand.
Burke will have Arts added to his existing portfolio work: sustainability, environment, water, population and communities. "He has a longstanding interest in the arts and was a keen recruit to the task," the government said when announcing the new cabinet.
"He will be assisted by Michael Danby as his Parliamentary Secretary whose lifelong commitment to the arts started when, as a teenager, he worked in his mother’s art gallery."
Contact this reporter at bswift@www.if.com.au or on Twitter at @bcswift.