Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has unveiled his revamped second-term cabinet, retaining Jason Clare as Minister for Education and appointing Julian Hill as Assistant Minister for International Education, in what he described as a historic reshuffle of the largest Labor caucus in Australian federal history.
Announced at a press conference in Canberra on May 12, the reshuffle signals a sharpened focus on Australia’s international education sector — the country’s fourth-largest export — amid ongoing concerns about regulatory oversight and student experience.
“International education is such an important export for Australia,” Albanese said. “It provides income, international connections, and strengthens our ties globally… It’s important that students who come here get a quality education.”
Hill, who will also retain his role as Assistant Minister for Customs and Multicultural Affairs, brings experience as the former co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of International Education — a cross-party group that facilitates dialogue between government and the education sector.
Cabinet
| Anthony Albanese MP | Prime Minister |
|---|---|
| Richard Marles MP | Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Defence |
| Senator Penny Wong | Minister for Foreign Affairs |
| Dr Jim Chalmers MP | Treasurer |
| Senator Katy Gallagher | Minister for Finance Minister for the Public Service Minister for Women Minister for Government Services |
| Senator Don Farrell | Minister for Trade and Tourism Special Minister of State |
| Tony Burke MP | Minister for Home Affairs Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Minister for Cyber Security Minister for the Arts |
| Mark Butler MP | Minister for Health and Ageing Minister for Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme |
| Chris Bowen MP | Minister for Climate Change and Energy |
| Catherine King MP | Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government |
| Amanda Rishworth MP | Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations |
| Jason Clare MP | Minister for Education |
| Michelle Rowland MP | Attorney-General |
| Tanya Plibersek MP | Minister for Social Services |
| Julie Collins MP | Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry |
| Clare O’Neil MP | Minister for Housing Minister for Homelessness Minister for Cities |
| Madeleine King MP | Minister for Resources Minister for Northern Australia |
| Senator Murray Watt | Minister for the Environment and Water |
| Senator Malarndirri McCarthy | Minister for Indigenous Australians |
| Anika Wells MP | Minister for Communications Minister for Sport |
| Pat Conroy MP | Minister for Defence Industry Minister for Pacific Island Affairs |
| Dr Anne Aly MP | Minister for Small Business Minister for International Development Minister for Multicultural Affairs |
| Senator Tim Ayres | Minister for Industry and Innovation Minister for Science |
Outer Ministry
| Matt Keogh MP | Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Minister for Defence Personnel |
|---|---|
| Kristy McBain MP | Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories Minister for Emergency Management |
| Andrew Giles MP | Minister for Skills and Training |
| Senator Jenny McAllister | Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme |
| Dr Daniel Mulino MP | Assistant Treasurer Minister for Financial Services |
| Senator Dr Jess Walsh | Minister for Early Childhood Education Minister for Youth |
| Sam Rae MP | Minister for Aged Care and Seniors |
Assistant Ministers
| Patrick Gorman MP | Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Assistant Minister for the Public Service Assistant Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations |
|---|---|
| Matt Thistlethwaite MP | Assistant Minister for Immigration Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade |
| Dr Andrew Leigh MP | Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury |
| Ged Kearney MP | Assistant Minister for Social Services Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence |
| Emma McBride MP | Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health |
| Senator Anthony Chisholm | Assistant Minister for Resources Assistant Minister for Regional Development Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry |
| Josh Wilson MP | Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Assistant Minister for Emergency Management |
| Julian Hill MP | Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs Assistant Minister for International Education |
| Rebecca White | Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health Assistant Minister for Women |
| Dr Andrew Charlton MP | Cabinet Secretary Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy |
| Senator Nita Green | Assistant Minister for Northern Australia Assistant Minister for Tourism Assistant Minister for Pacific Island Affairs |
| Peter Khalil MP | Assistant Minister for Defence |
Special Envoys
| Susan Templeman MP | Special Envoy for the Arts |
|---|---|
| Luke Gosling OAM MP | Special Envoy for Defence, Veterans’ Affairs and Northern Australia |
| Dan Repacholi MP | Special Envoy for Men’s Health |
| Josh Burns MP | Special Envoy for Social Housing and Homelessness |
| Marion Scrymgour MP | Special Envoy for Remote Communities |
| Kate Thwaites MP | Special Envoy for Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience |
| Tim Watts MP | Special Envoy for Indian Ocean Affairs |
Albanese, who launched the Australia-India Alumni Association a decade ago, emphasised the need for strong leadership in the sector: “There are literally hundreds of thousands of students who have a relationship with Australia. This sector is complex, and Julian Hill is someone who’s been involved as a local member. I think he’ll be a very good appointment.”
The announcement comes amid controversy over a proposed hike in student visa fees, a move that has sparked pushback from education providers and student advocacy groups.
In a statement following the announcement, Hill said the reshuffle marked an “extraordinary opportunity” for the government and the Labor Party to “change this country for the better.” He added: “I am deeply humbled by the trust that was put into my government with the election, and we certainly won’t take it for granted.”
The newly formed ministry has been officially sworn in today by the Governor-General.
The Group of Eight (Go8), representing Australia’s leading research-intensive universities, welcomed the appointments and reaffirmed its commitment to working with the government on national priorities such as productivity and sovereign capability.
Go8 Chief Executive Vicki Thomson congratulated Clare on his reappointment and welcomed Senator Tim Ayres as the new Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science. “The Albanese Government has recognised that R&D is essential to lifting productivity and underwriting national prosperity,” she said.
Calling for an urgent overhaul of Australia’s research and education policy landscape, the Go8 urged the government to scrap the controversial Job Ready Graduates scheme and boost R&D investment to 3% of GDP. “Our universities are a national asset,” said Thomson. “We stand ready to support the government to educate the next generation, drive innovation, and secure Australia’s future.”
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