Lindsay Tanner becomes university professor

Outgoing Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner has accepted a part-time role at the Victoria University following his retirement from politics this year.

The University announced Tanner's appointment as adjunct professor and inaugural Vice-Chancellor's Fellow, working alongside researchers in economics, industry and social analysis.

Tanner was expected to take up the position in October, after which he would produce papers, deliver public lectures, seminars and occasional guest lectures to students.

He would also provide advice to senior executives, Vice-Chancellor Liz Harman and Vice-Chancellor elect Peter Dawkins, who would succeed Harman when she retired in December.

Victoria University stated that it was "confident that Lindsay Tanner has a major contribution to make in academia, in ways that are highly relevant to industry and government", highlighting his experience and books: The Politics of Pollution; The Last Battle; and Open Australia.

Tanner stated that he was "delighted" to contribute to the growth of the University, which he believed would play "an increasingly important role in our changing higher education landscape".

As Finance Minister, Tanner was a joint stakeholder in the Federal Government's plan to build a national broadband network and overseer of the Gershon IT cost-cutting reforms in Federal Government agencies.

Elected member for Melbourne in 1993, Tanner announced his retirement from politics as Julia Gillard replaced Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister on 24 June, although he said his decision was "absolutely unrelated" to the leadership spill.

He was succeeded in his electorate by Labor candidate Cath Bowtell, who lost the seat of Melbourne to Greens MP Adam Bandt in Saturday's Federal Election.