工黨副黨魁Tanya Plibersek(左)和工黨黨魁Bill Shorten(右),資料圖
東南網澳大利亞站7月25日綜合報道 (本站記者 彭寒 實習記者 王慧明)在工黨黨魁Bill Shorten 近日宣布的32位新影子內閣名單中,僅有5位議員保持了職位不變。在此次變動中,馬來西亞華裔議員Penny Wong(黃英賢)接替工黨副黨魁Tanya Plibersek職務,從貿易與投資影子部長(Trade and Investment)轉任影子外交部長一職,這也是該職位歷史上出現的首個亞裔面孔。
外交事務亞裔面孔
Penny Wong再次創造歷史,資料圖
Penny Wong的中文名叫黃英賢,是出生在馬來西亞的華裔,其父為客家人的后代。她8歲跟隨母親來到澳大利亞,在這里長大并完成學業。
作為澳大利亞歷史上第一位亞裔女性參議員,Penny Wong在她的從政之路上每走一步都在創造新的歷史。在2010年至2013年期間,她分別在Julia Gillard(朱麗亞·吉拉德)和Kevin Rudd(陸克文)政府下擔任財務部長,她也是澳大利亞歷史上第一位亞裔財務部長。
2013年,雖然工黨在大選中敗北,Penny Wong仍然被工黨委以反對黨參議院領袖的重任,再次創造歷史,成為該職位歷史上首位女性。
本次當選影子外交部長,再次創造澳大利亞亞裔政治歷史的同時,Penny Wong本人也表示自己十分榮幸。
“很榮幸被任命為影子外交部長,感謝Bill和Tanya給我這個機會。”Penny Wong在個人社交媒體上寫道。
影子國防部換帥
前影子國防部發言人Stephen Conroy曾就南海問題強硬表態,資料圖
國防影子部長一職由原移民部長Richard Marles接任,而原國防影子部長Stephen Conroy則改任體育與特殊事務(Sport and Special)部長。 對于這一項變動,不少外媒認為,這是對Stephen Conroy職務上的削減。
此前,Stephen Conroy曾在中國南海問題上發表強硬言論,并支持澳大利亞派軍艦進入中國南海,以此來踐行自由航行(Freedom Of Navigation)。對此,Bill Shorten 否認這一言論是導致Stephen Conroy離開國防部長職位的原因。
“工黨會一直支持國際海洋公約,”Bill Shorten 聲明,“所以在南海問題上,工黨的政策沒有變化。”
教育,民生以及多元文化
原影子外交部長,副黨魁Tanya Plibersek將出任教育部長。“對工黨來說,在第45屆國會的議題中,教育將排在經濟和社會之前成為重中之重,”Bill Shorten 在采訪中表示。
Bill Shorten 自己將負責原住民事務。除此之外,經濟,資源,工業,科技等重要部門也都更換了各自的一把手。
在這場變動中,工黨的前座中也出現了第一位女性原住民議員Linda Burney,以及兩位穆斯林影子前座成員 Ed Husic 和Sam Dastryari。
“我們將繼續夯實前三年墊定的堅實基礎,并在國事對話帶來新的聲音,”Bill Shorten 在采訪中說。
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Bill Shorten Announces New Shadow Ministry, With Penny Wong Assumes Foreign Affairs
By Rita, Southeast Net Australia, 25 July
Opposition leader Bill Shorten has announced a big shake-up of Labor's front bench with new 32-member frontbench, among which Penny Wong, who is a Malaysian Australian of Chinese heritage,will move out the Trade and Investment portfolio and take on the Foreign Affairs portfolio.
Penny Wong, the holder of countless records of Asian Australian politics, just made a new history of becoming the first Asian Australian to assume top Foreign Affair portfolio in major parties.
Meanwhile Labor's defense spokesman Stephen Conroy hands out his job and move into Sport and Special portfolio, which is described as a “demotion”. Senator Conroy has taken a hawkish stance towards China's growing military presence in the South China Sea, but Mr. Shorten insisted changing his title did not mean Labor would soften its stance on the issue.
"In terms of support for the United Nations Law of the Sea conventions, that's the absolute policy of the Labor party,” Mr. Shorten said to ABC News, “Nothing has changed for Labor in South China Sea.”
As expected, deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek will leave foreign affairs to take up a super-charged education portfolio comprising both schools and universities.
"Education ... is a first order economic and social priority for Labor in the 45th parliament. Investing in education is the key to Australia's prosperity." Mr. Shorten said in Canberra.
The expanded 32-member line up also includes the first female indigenous MP, Linda Burney, and the first two Muslim shadow ministers in Ed Husic and Sam Dastyari.
"We're building on the strong policy foundation of the last three years and will bring fresh voices to the national conversation." Bill Shorten told ABC News.