Here we go again: Rudd announces new minister

Kevin Rudd drops Senator McLucas from the front bench and appoints Justine Elliot Minister for Ageing.

Justine Elliot - Member and Candidate for RichmondThe Prime Minister-elect, Kevin Rudd, has promoted a junior MP to head up the Ageing portfolio in his new-look ministerial team.

The new Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot (pictured), has represented the northern NSW seat of Richmond since 2004.

The Labor Party’s former spokesperson on Ageing, Disabilities and Carers, Jan McLucas, has been dropped from the front bench.

According to the Labor Party’s website, Ms Elliot previously served as a former community representative on the Northern Rivers Area Health Service Hospital and Community Health Council.

Before entering politics, she worked as a Youth Justice Convenor with the NSW Department of Juvenile Justice and a Police Officer.

Mr Rudd praised the new minister for her work in the community among older Australians.

“Justine has been enormously successful in her electorate, in her dealings with the ageing community, she is a former policeman, a person with great experience and I believe will be well equipped to deal with the challenges of the ageing portfolio,” he said.

Ms Elliot is the eighth minister responsible for Commonwealth-funded aged care since 1996.

Nicola Roxon has been named the Minister for Health and Ageing and Senator Jan McLucas is Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing. Alan Griffin is the new Minister for Veterans’ Affairs.

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