Election to the Shadow Ministry

Doorstop Interview - 20 August 2002

E & OE - PROOF ONLY

ELLIS: Well, thank you very much for coming to this doorstop. I'm particularly pleased to be here today as the newly elected Shadow Minister on the Crean Opposition frontbench. And I have to say that I am very much looking forward to contributing at that level as I have already been doing in the last few months as a Shadow Parliamentary Secretary.

The work I was doing as a Shadow Parliamentary Secretary into the disability area is an area that I have enjoyed immensely and whilst I would be happy for that to continue I'm also happy to take on whatever task Simon decrees upon me in the next few days, and I am looking forward to that very much.

And I am happy to take any questions.

JOURNALIST: What portfolio would you like?

ELLIS: Well, as I have just said I have a very strong passion, in fact, and interests in the area of disability but also in a vast range of other social policy, human service areas, as well as a few on the edge of that. So I think we will wait and see what Simon decides will be my want and I'm looking forward to getting into it with great gusto at that time.

JOURNALIST: Will there be a bit of a reshuffle amongst the whole frontbench?

ELLIS: Well, I don't know about the whole frontbench but I'm sure there will be a minor one at the very least given the departure of Steve Martin.

JOURNALIST: And what swung it for you? Is it more than just gender?

ELLIS: I would like to think that gender, in fact, had nothing to do with it. I'd like to think that, in fact, as a candidate within the Caucus that I've received the endorsement of my colleagues given the fact that I've been here since 96, have worked very, very hard, and I think successfully, through the committee process of the House, and in more recent times on the more

junior frontbench and I would like to think that that is the reason I've received the endorsement of my colleagues.

JOURNALIST: Do you think that is the case?

ELLIS: Yes, I do actually, very much so.

JOURNALIST: Do you think it will be days before we know or?

ELLIS: You would be best to ask Simon that but I'm sure that by the end of the week we will probably know the outcome of the allocation of portfolios.

JOURNALIST: Are you expecting it to be in that broad social policy area?

ELLIS: It could be. I don't have any idea at this stage it's up to Simon to make that decision.

JOURNALIST: Have you indicated to him…?

ELLIS: We have had a very fruitful discussion late last night about a range of interests that I have had in the past.

JOURNALIST: As a local constituent, you are not abandoning your electorate, are you?

ELLIS: I am not! And I will continue to save banks from closure along with all of the other issues of the constituency that come forward. I have a reputation, I think, as a very dedicated grassroots local member and I don't intend to change that at all.

JOURNALIST: The ACT is quite well represented on the front bench.

ELLIS: Well, that has been a comment made and, in fact, some people may have thought that that was a reason for me not to get the endorsement. I don't think the geography in fact should play that sort of role and I am very proud to be part of an ACT branch that has, in fact, got a very good record historically of its members advancing and also of female representation at that level. So, you know, I'm very at home coming forward as I am.

JOURNALIST: What is your view on Margaret Reid?

ELLIS: …. I was very, very pleased when she got that job, and I told her so, and I was equally sad when I saw her lose it and I've told her so. I'd like to think there was a reason other than "you've been there long enough" for a person of her calibre to be removed the way that she was.

JOURNALIST: That's what they've said is the reason.

ELLIS: Well apparently that's the reason, that's the reason they are moving around. Maybe they should say that to the Prime Minister too?

JOURNALIST: We could have had briefly, for just a week, every ACT politician in a position of power?

ELLIS: We came very close to it didn't we?

Ends