The Federal Opposition has promoted Dr Jim Chalmers to the position of Shadow Minister for Superannuation and Financial services, filling the role previously held by Bernie Ripoll who will not contest the next election.
Chalmers, who entered Federal Parliament in 2013, will also take on the role of Shadow Assistant Minister for Trade and Investment, Shadow Minister for Productivity and Shadow Minister for Sport.
He previously held roles as Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Trade and Investment and was former Treasurer Wayne Swan’s chief of staff from 2010 to 2013, as well as his principal adviser from 2007 to 2010.
Chalmers succeeds some well-known names in Parliament have won the seat of Rankin in the 2013 Federal election, previously held by Labour’s Craig Emerson as well as Ripoll, who held the superannuation and financial services portfolio for the past two years.
On his Facebook page Chalmers said he paid “tribute to Bernie Ripoll for his outstanding work in these policy areas” as did the Financial Services Council (FSC) and the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA).
FSC chief executive Sally Loane thanked Ripoll for his contribution to financial services in his parliamentary roles and as the chair of a number of parliamentary inquiries while ASFA chief executive Pauline Vamos highlighted his work on the Future of Financial Advice reforms.
Both associations congratulated Chalmers and said he would be well served in the role by his previous shadow portfolio experience.
