Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has appointed Michelle Rowland as the new Federal Minister for Communications, replacing Liberal Party front bencher Paul Fletcher.

Fletcher served as Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and The Arts from his appointment in 2019.

Under the new government his portfolio has been split, with the urban infrastructure, cities and arts portfolios, redistributed into the portfolios held by Catherine King and Tony Bourke.

Rowland, who spent much of the past decade as shadow minister for communications, takes on her new role with plenty of experience in the field having had a career as a senior lawyer specialising in competition and regulation in the telecommunications, media and technology sectors, and also spending time as chair of Screen NSW.

In her new role she will responsible for delivering the government’s election promises on committing to five-year funding terms for the ABC as well as reversing the Coalition’s cut of $83.7 million to the public broadcaster.

CRA welcomed the new minister into the role with CEO Ford Ennals, saying, “This is an excellent appointment. Minister Rowland has deep media expertise and the radio industry welcomes her stated commitment to bringing Australia’s media laws into the digital age.”