Tasmanian Senator Jonathon Duniam has been promoted to the frontbench as shadow education minister, as Liberal leader Sussan Ley announced her shadow cabinet yesterday alongside National Leader David Littleproud. In the reshuffle, Victorian Senator Sarah Henderson has been dumped from the Coalition frontbench.
Duniam was first elected to the Senate for Tasmania in 2016 and during the Coalition’s last term in Parliament he held Assistant Minister roles in Forestry and Fisheries, Regional Tourism, and Industry Development.
Prior to entering Parliament, Duniam was the Deputy Chief of Staff to former Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman. He is a graduate of the University of Tasmania (BA, LLB).
Other Shadow cabinet appointments of interest include:
- Andrew Hastie, Home Affairs
- Michaelia Cash, Foreign Affairs
- Kevin Hogan, Trade
Henderson has been Shadow Minister for Education since February 2023 and during her term she was a vocal critic of the Albanese Government’s handling of international education policy. She also didn’t hold back on her direct criticism of the international education sector, accusing the Group of Eight (Go8) of having ‘rivers of gold’ from the fees of large numbers of international students.
The Coalition has some reputation building to do in the international education policy space. From the proposal to increase the student visa application charge to $5000 for Go8 universities and $2500 for other international students, to including an increase in permitted student work hours in Liberal Party costings statement two days out from the election (TKN 020525).
Time will tell how it proposes to rebuild its credibility and trust with Australia’s international education sector, if indeed it has the desire to do so.
