Melissa Price is no longer Minister for the Environment after Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, announced a new Ministerial line-up yesterday.
Price has been replaced by Sussan Ley although responsibility for emission reduction targets has been given to the Minister for Energy, Angus Taylor.
This means Taylor will have the challenging task of keeping energy prices down while meeting Australia's 2030 emissions target.
The next meeting of the UN Climate Action Summit is this September in New York.
He will also be in charge of the $3.5 billion Climate Solutions Fund.
Price has become defence industry minister and Alan Tudge will remain Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population.
The new Morrison ministry features seven women in cabinet which is a record for the coalition.
Nationals deputy leader Bridget McKenzie has been appointed Australia’s first female Minister for Agriculture.
Ley has been in parliament for 17 years representing the federal seat of Farrer which borders Victoria and South Australia.
Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) interim CEO, Jonathan Cartlege, welcomed the new line-up.
By putting emission reduction back with energy, Cartledge said he hoped there would be renewed impetus to examine the huge efficiencies the built environment had to offer on the demand side of the energy equation.
“The Prime Minister has put together a Cabinet and broader Ministry that is carefully calibrated to tackle some of the biggest emerging challenges facing the nation,” Cartlege said.
“From managing the growth of our major centres and ensuring we meet our emissions reduction obligations, this ministerial line-up looks to the future and the solutions that need to be put in place now.
“Likewise, governments have powerful levers they can pull to capitalise on the tremendous leadership shown by Australian industry to decarbonise, and incentivise others to realise the full emissions reduction potential offered by our buildings and urban infrastructure.”