‘Need to do better’: Palaszczuk promises change with reshuffled cabinet

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has conceded her government must do better in the areas of health, housing and youth justice after a rare reshuffle of senior roles pitched as a refresh ahead of a state election next October.

But the first changes among Palaszczuk’s ministerial team since the 2020 vote will neither elevate any backbenchers or outer-cabinet members, nor eject any from the frontbench ranks, instead swapping out those tasked with wrangling the complex problem areas.

Queensland’s reshuffled ministers (left to right, from back row): Mark Bailey, Meaghan Scanlon, Craig Crawford, Leanne Linard; Yvette D’Ath, Leeanne Enoch, Di Farmer; Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Governor Jeannette Young, Shannon Fentiman.Credit: Matt Dennien

“I’ve been listening to Queenslanders about several issues,” Palaszczuk told reporters after a swearing-in ceremony for the new roles on Thursday, capping off two days of speculation and meetings with ministers expected to bring fresh eyes and energy to their roles.

“Those key issues have been in the areas of health and housing and youth justice, and this is exactly the reset the government has needed, and I have made these decisions ... we need to do better, I’ve heard this message loud and clear. And we need to respond better to the public.”

Following a bruising start to the year and slipping polling figures, news of the cabinet reshuffle first emerged late on Tuesday after Yvette D’Ath was told she would be moved from the tough health portfolio.

Pressed on whether she felt D’Ath had been doing a good job, Palaszczuk told one reporter she did not have to answer directly and praised her Labor-right faction ally and friend’s work as Attorney-General between 2015 and 2020 – a role she “is better suited to”.

“Yvette D’Ath helped us steer the state through the COVID pandemic, okay, now that is a huge achievement. But the health portfolio is huge and we need to be more responsive,” Palaszczuk said.

D’Ath has now been sworn back in as Attorney-General, in a straight swap with the new health minister, Shannon Fentiman, who will also get a mental health portfolio.

Other major changes will see former housing minister and Quandamooka woman Leeanne Enoch assume responsibility for treaty along with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partnerships.

This follows passage of the government’s path to treaty bill during a regional sitting of parliament in Cairns last week, cited as the main trigger for the reshuffle by having caused Palaszczuk to stop and think about “who I wanted in positions to the next election”.

Craig Crawford, losing the First Nations affairs responsibility, will now front child safety along with his seniors and disability services role.

Leanne Linard will take on the environment and science portfolios, with Employment and Small Business Minister Di Farmer taking on Linard’s old youth justice ministry.

Meaghan Scanlon will be elevated from environment to a new standalone housing portfolio, with her separate youth ministry being folded into communities – a move the LNP opposition has called a “major gaffe”.

The LNP, across multiple media conferences and statements, have broadly dismissed the changes with a single phrase (“same circus, same clowns”) and attacked the records of the reshuffled ministers.

Among the changes around the cabinet table, the shift of Fentiman – a key reformer – into the heavily scrutinised health job will be a major test for the Labor Left faction member, who is tipped as future leadership material alongside Treasurer Cameron Dick and Deputy Premier Steven Miles.

Both Fentiman and Scanlon were explicitly thanked in Palaszczuk’s opening remarks on Thursday, in which she stood alongside the pair, Miles, Enoch and Farmer to spruik her “refreshed” government. A separate media conference held by D’Ath, Linard and Crawford followed.

There, D’Ath said she had enjoyed her time in the role and respected Palaszczuk’s decision, referencing the “concerted campaign” from the LNP and some sections of the media to have her sacked.

“It’s part of being part of, you know, part of a government,” D’Ath said. “And, ah, it’s politics.”