Carr gets unis and innovation portfolio Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the task of his new frontbench will be to keep the Australian economy strong. Kim Carr has been given a second chance to lead innovation agenda. Pic. Ray Strange Source: The Australian FORMER science, research and innovation minister Kim Carr has been reappointed to his old ministry with the added responsibility of higher education. Senator Carr said he was pleased to get higher education on top of his old portfolio. Our students are our future researchers, entrepreneurs and workers in industry. They are central to the innovation agenda," he said in a statement, Innovating better than we do now is the highest priority and most practical step we can take as a country to improve living standards, create jobs, and secure our future prosperity. The move has been warmly received by the higher education and research sectors. Vicki Thomson, executive director of the Australian Technology Network, said Senator Carr's appointment would "provide some certainty and stability in what has been an uncertain environment over the last 12 months." "He has already demonstrated a strong commitment and deep understanding of the role Australian universities must play in the national and international innovation agenda," Ms Thomson said. Simon Marginson, professor of higher education at the University of Melbourne, said the appointment was "good for sector." "Senator Carr knows and likes research and higher education, but there are no fiscal implications as a result of the appointment," he said. It is likely assessing research impact will be high on Senator Carr's agenda. He removed impact as an indicator of research quality in the Excellence for Research Australia assessment arguing it was too difficult and too expensive to evaluate. However, former minister Chris Evans but impact back on the agenda earlier this year following a report by the ATN and Group of Eight. Senator Carr was demoted and removed from the front bench after backing Kevin Rudd when Julia Gillard took over as prime minister in 2011. Since then he has held the portfolios of manufacturing, defence materials and human services. In politics you don't often get a second chance. I will embrace this opportunity to bring energy and focus to the task of putting innovation at the centre of building a richer, fairer, greener Australia," Senator Carr said, who is the fourth minister for higher education and research in six months. Brendan O'Connor has been confirmed as Minister for Skills and Training as well as Minister for Employment.