Rocker Takes Stage as Australia's Eco Minister

Singer Peter Garrett, the menacing frontman of '80s punk rock band Midnight Oil, is now Australia's new environment minister.The appointment of the towering, hyperactive Garrett signals the new Labor government's aggressive makeover after 12 years of conservative leadership and the importance it places on global warming, the London Times reports.

New PM Kevin Rudd has declared his intention to sign the Kyoto agreement and has appointed a minister for climate change to negotiate international agreements. The opposition Liberal party, still reeling from its thumping in Saturday's elections, may be following Labor's lead—new leader Brendan Nelson likes to bash out Animals hits on an old guitar. (More Australia stories.)