Cabinet unveiled with ministry changes, new departments
UPDATED: Major changes and newly minted departments feature in the new Queensland cabinet unveiled by Premier David Crisafulli.
The Liberal National Party has unveiled its first Queensland cabinet in almost a decade, featuring major changes and ministers tasked with newly minted departments.
The Liberal National Party’s cabinet was officially sworn in on Friday, with new ministries including victim support, home ownership, customer services, open data and integrity.
Premier David Crisafulli has rewarded senior leadership with some of the biggest ministries in his 19-strong team after the LNP ended Labor’s nine-year reign.
“I promised Queenslanders the same experienced faces who have been fighting for a fresh start for Queensland would be the same ones to deliver it,” he said on Friday.
Crisafulli promised before the election that his shadow ministry would form his cabinet if the LNP was elected.
But there have been some major portfolio changes.
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David Janetzki remains as treasurer but will take on the energy and home ownership portfolio.
Ros Bates has lost the health portfolio to instead be in charge of finance, trade, employment and training.
Tim Nicholls will instead guide the health and ambulance services portfolio after serving as the shadow attorney-general.
Deb Frecklington was in charge of energy and will now serve as the attorney-general as well as minister for justice and integrity.
Laura Gerber, Dale Last and Dan Purdie are the only members who retain the same portfolios they held in opposition.
Gerber will take charge of the new portfolio of victim support on top of youth justice and corrective services.
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Purdie keeps the police portfolio and Mr Last has natural resources, mines, manufacturing and the regions.
The agriculture department has been scrapped in favour of primary industries with Tony Perrett taking the helm.
Rising star Sam O’Connor held the environment portfolio but has been promoted to housing, public works and youth portfolios.
His predecessor Tim Mander will take charge of sport, racing and the new Olympics and Paralympic Games portfolio.
Andrew Powell has been promoted from the backbench to take on environment, tourism, science and innovation which he held during the Newman government in 2012.
Amanda Camm maintains her passion portfolios of child safety and the prevention of domestic and family violence but will also lead the families, seniors and disability service departments.
Transport and main roads will be led by Brent Mickelberg while Steve Minnikin will lead customer services, open data for the first time and small and family business.
Christian Rowan will be the leader of the house after previously holding education, now taken by John-Paul Langbroek.
One of the longest-serving MPs in parliament, Fiona Simpson, has been given the women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partnerships and multiculturalism portfolios.
Crisafulli is set to ask his new team to work through the weekend to prepare for its first cabinet meeting on Monday.
He will provide each minister with a charter letter with his expectations for their role and the targets they must meet.
Two parliamentary sitting weeks are to be held by Christmas with youth crime laws to be a priority between November 26-28 and December 10-12.
With election counting nearly complete, the LNP is set to secure a majority of 53 seats to Labor’s 35.
