Science, research and tertiary education have been grouped together in a new federal portfolio to be headed by Senator Chris Evans, following the ministerial reshuffle announced this week by the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard.  Senator Kim Carr, who was Minister for Industry, Innovation, Science and Research,  has been demoted from Cabinet to the outer ministry as Minister for Manufacturing and Minister for Defence Materiel.

 

The new portfolio also includes Skills. The former Department of Industry, Innovation, Science and Research will be replaced by a new Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education.

 

The Industry and Innovation portfolios have gone to Greg Combet, who also retains Climate Change and Energy Efficiency.

 

Senator Evans said the reintegration of the Tertiary Education, Science and Research portfolios would "provide greater certainty for our universities and ensure our record investment in research is even more closely linked with our education and skills priorities".