Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has freed himself of responsibility for Communications, appointing Senator Mitch Fifield to the ministerial position.

The appointment lumps Fifield with the rolling-out of the National Broadband Network, maintaining the expensive and rapidly-redundant ‘multi-technology mix’ model. 

Fifield is now also the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Digital Government.

The telecommunications and ICT industries may also be impacted by the decisions of Christopher Pyne, the former education minister who is now Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science.

Industry experts are keen to get into Mr Fifield’s ear.

“The first thing Senator Fifield should do is take notice of industry and civil society groups, such as Internet Australia, who have the knowledge and expertise to provide balanced advice and assistance to government,” Internet Australia CEO Laurie Patton said in a statement.

“The data retention act urgently requires attention.

“It is timed to commence on October 13th and yet many ISPs are still struggling to understand their obligations under this legislation we say is fundamentally flawed.

“We still have no idea how the funding allocated to this initiative will be distributed. In any case, it is well short of the likely actual operating costs which means Internet consumers will be hit with increased user fees.”

Internet Australia has reminded Fifield that it still objects to recent legislation allowing copyright holders to force ISPs to block piracy-linked websites.

Mr Turnbull framed his reshuffle as a move to a cabinet of the 21st century, with a focus on jobs and industries of the future.

Mr Turnbull says the new Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science – Christopher Pyne - will “be at the centre, as is the whole government, of one of our most important agendas”.

“Christopher's department, the ministry for industry, innovation and science, will drive the government's focus on investing in science, promoting science technology, engineering and mathematics, education, supporting start-ups and bringing together innovation initiatives right across government,” the PM said.

“With a sweeping tide of new disruptive technologies that will entirely transform the way we live and the way we work, Australian industry must continue to lead the world in research and innovation, ensuring our nation can seize the opportunities ahead,” Pyne said in a statement.

“We have the researchers, the universities, the institutions such as CSIRO, Questacon and others who are world leading. We have Cooperative Research Centres and Industry Growth Centres and a very wide range of collaborative ventures around the globe. We have a major agenda in the commercialisation of research outcomes.

“We have the technical capacity and capability to remain a nation with industries that offer the jobs of the 21st century. As minister I will be working with industry and our institutions to continue on this course and look forward to the challenges ahead.”