Gray, a senior figure in the Labor party in Western Australia, is being urged to ensure that a strong advocate for the resources industry remains in place as investment in the sector slows. Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced that the Climate Change Department, responsible for the controversial carbon tax, will be merged with the Industry Department and overseen by Climate Change Minister Greg Combet. Despite this reshuffle, no changes have been made to the Treasury or Finance Ministry, which are held by Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan and Penny Wong. The reshuffle was prompted by a failed leadership coup by supporters of former leader Kevin Rudd, resulting in the resignation of three cabinet ministers and two junior ministers. Gillard's decision to call for elections on September 14, which current opinion polls suggest she will lose, means that the impact of the reshuffle is likely to be limited. Former Resources Minister Martin Ferguson, who was known for his pro-business stance and support for the mining industry, resigned along with others. The Australian mining industry has seen significant investment in recent years, but there are signs that the boom may be slowing. The Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) believes that the appointment of Gray, a former Labor party member with industry experience, will help attract investment to the sector. Gray left the Labor party in 2000 to work for Wesfarmers and later for Woodside Petroleum. Shell decided to retract its offer after Treasurer Peter Costello deemed it detrimental to the national interest, with Gray's efforts to rally public opinion against Shell playing a role in this decision. ($1 equals 0.9572 Australian dollars).