Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s Cabinet reshuffle has angered some Labor figures
Ms Palaszczuk pointed to Kate Jones, describing her as a “hardworking” minister who wanted to concentrate on two areas.
“And I’ve delivered that for her,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
The new 17-member Cabinet was officially sworn in at Government House this morning, less than 24 hours after the expansion was announced.
All up eleven ministers took the oath including the Cabinet’s four newest Ministers, Stirling Hinchliffe, Grace Grace, Mick de Brenni and Leanne Donaldson.
Ms Palaszczuk’s two new assistant Ministers Mark Ryan and Jennifer Howard were also officially appointed to their roles this morning.
The new Cabinet will officially meet for the first time on Monday, at the last Cabinet meeting for the year.
Directors-General and family were on hand for today’s swearing in.
OVERNIGHT
ANNASTACIA Palaszczuk has angered senior Labor figures by failing to undertake wholesale changes of her Cabinet and demote underperforming ministers.
The Queensland Premier yesterday confirmed she would scrap her election promise of a pint-sized 14-member ministry by adding three new positions to Cabinet, along with an additional assistant minister.
Stirling Hinchliffe, Grace Grace and Mick De Brenni have all earned promotion along with Leanne Donaldson, who will fill the vacancy created by the trouble-prone Jo-Ann Miller, who resigned from Cabinet on Friday.
NEW MINISTERS: (From L to R) Grace Grace, Stirling Hinchliffe, QLD Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Mick de Brenni and Leanne Donaldson.
Mark Ryan and Jennifer Howard become assistant ministers.
However, the long-anticipated reshuffle outraged some within the Government who believe Ms Palaszczuk lost an opportunity to redefine the administration and hand more important duties to better performing ministers.
Treasurer Curtis Pitt has kept his portfolio despite criticism of his performance.
Mr Pitt, who is close to Ms Palaszczuk, lost Industrial Relations but was handed the coveted Sports portfolio.
Rockhampton MP Bill Byrne has been promoted to Police despite condemnation over his performance in his previous portfolio of Agriculture, Sport and Racing.
There is also concern the Government will appear further in lock-step with unions and could alienate business groups after Ms Palaszczuk handed the Industrial Relations portfolio to Grace Grace, who previously headed the Queensland Council of Unions and worked for the Queensland Nurses Union.
While Deputy Premier Jackie Trad and Education Minister Kate Jones were both relieved of responsibilities, 10 ministers have largely unchanged duties.
“She blew it,” one senior Labor figure told The Courier-Mail, while another described the reshuffle as “crap”.
However, Ms Palaszczuk insisted the new ministry would give better access to the administration and matched the Government’s priorities, particularly around innovation and domestic violence.
She said she thought “long and hard” about breaking her election promise of a 14-member Cabinet but it was the right decision.
“Having seen my Cabinet operate, and speaking to members of the business community and community organisations as well, I believe that the best interests of Queensland are served with a great capacity for my ministers to be able to meet with stakeholders across the state,” she said, adding that the cost of the new Cabinet members would be offset by savings elsewhere.
“The Treasurer will be outlining the cost implications at the midyear review in the next week or two,” she said.
The new ministers maintain the previous factional balance despite criticism that the Labor Forum faction was under-represented.
Mr De Brenni takes on Housing and Public Works, while Ms Donaldson takes over Agriculture and Fisheries. Mr Hinchliffe, who was a minister in the Bligh government, takes on Transport and the Commonwealth Games.
The expanded Cabinet will also mean Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg can pay three additional shadow ministers the annual $57,578 entitlement.
Mr Springborg described the reshuffle as a “shemozzle”.
“This is a Government that should be taking its training wheels off after 12 months but it’s a Government that’s putting more training wheels on new ministers heading into 2016,” he said.
While the Opposition had maintained 18 shadow Cabinet members, only 14 could be paid under Parliament’s rules.
“And I’ve delivered that for her,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
The new 17-member Cabinet was officially sworn in at Government House this morning, less than 24 hours after the expansion was announced.
All up eleven ministers took the oath including the Cabinet’s four newest Ministers, Stirling Hinchliffe, Grace Grace, Mick de Brenni and Leanne Donaldson.
Ms Palaszczuk’s two new assistant Ministers Mark Ryan and Jennifer Howard were also officially appointed to their roles this morning.
The new Cabinet will officially meet for the first time on Monday, at the last Cabinet meeting for the year.
Directors-General and family were on hand for today’s swearing in.
OVERNIGHT
ANNASTACIA Palaszczuk has angered senior Labor figures by failing to undertake wholesale changes of her Cabinet and demote underperforming ministers.
The Queensland Premier yesterday confirmed she would scrap her election promise of a pint-sized 14-member ministry by adding three new positions to Cabinet, along with an additional assistant minister.
Stirling Hinchliffe, Grace Grace and Mick De Brenni have all earned promotion along with Leanne Donaldson, who will fill the vacancy created by the trouble-prone Jo-Ann Miller, who resigned from Cabinet on Friday.
NEW MINISTERS: (From L to R) Grace Grace, Stirling Hinchliffe, QLD Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Mick de Brenni and Leanne Donaldson.
Mark Ryan and Jennifer Howard become assistant ministers.
However, the long-anticipated reshuffle outraged some within the Government who believe Ms Palaszczuk lost an opportunity to redefine the administration and hand more important duties to better performing ministers.
Treasurer Curtis Pitt has kept his portfolio despite criticism of his performance.
Mr Pitt, who is close to Ms Palaszczuk, lost Industrial Relations but was handed the coveted Sports portfolio.
Rockhampton MP Bill Byrne has been promoted to Police despite condemnation over his performance in his previous portfolio of Agriculture, Sport and Racing.
There is also concern the Government will appear further in lock-step with unions and could alienate business groups after Ms Palaszczuk handed the Industrial Relations portfolio to Grace Grace, who previously headed the Queensland Council of Unions and worked for the Queensland Nurses Union.
While Deputy Premier Jackie Trad and Education Minister Kate Jones were both relieved of responsibilities, 10 ministers have largely unchanged duties.
“She blew it,” one senior Labor figure told The Courier-Mail, while another described the reshuffle as “crap”.
However, Ms Palaszczuk insisted the new ministry would give better access to the administration and matched the Government’s priorities, particularly around innovation and domestic violence.
She said she thought “long and hard” about breaking her election promise of a 14-member Cabinet but it was the right decision.
“Having seen my Cabinet operate, and speaking to members of the business community and community organisations as well, I believe that the best interests of Queensland are served with a great capacity for my ministers to be able to meet with stakeholders across the state,” she said, adding that the cost of the new Cabinet members would be offset by savings elsewhere.
“The Treasurer will be outlining the cost implications at the midyear review in the next week or two,” she said.
The new ministers maintain the previous factional balance despite criticism that the Labor Forum faction was under-represented.
Mr De Brenni takes on Housing and Public Works, while Ms Donaldson takes over Agriculture and Fisheries. Mr Hinchliffe, who was a minister in the Bligh government, takes on Transport and the Commonwealth Games.
The expanded Cabinet will also mean Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg can pay three additional shadow ministers the annual $57,578 entitlement.
Mr Springborg described the reshuffle as a “shemozzle”.
“This is a Government that should be taking its training wheels off after 12 months but it’s a Government that’s putting more training wheels on new ministers heading into 2016,” he said.
While the Opposition had maintained 18 shadow Cabinet members, only 14 could be paid under Parliament’s rules.
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