Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s new-look cabinet sworn in
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s new cabinet is being sworn in, with former Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman given a brand new portfolio as well as the continually plagued Health portfolio. SEE THE FULL LIST OF CHANGES
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The state government’s new-look cabinet is being sworn in at Government House following a major reshuffle, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk describing it as “marking a new beginning” for the government, as she unveils new ministerial portfolios for Mental Health and Treaty.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE FULL LIST OF MINISTERS AND THEIR PORTFOLIOS
Former Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman will take on the troubled health portfolio as well as the new role of Minister for Mental Health, while former Housing Minister Leeanne Enoch becomes Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Minister for Treaty.
Ms Fentiman said she recognised the enormity of the task ahead with the so-called poisoned chalice portfolio.
“The Premier asked me to do this very challenging job and I said ‘yes’ because I’m up for it,” she said.
Ms Enoch admitted she was disappointed to lose the housing portfolio given the amount of work she has committed to addressing the state’s crisis.
The portfolio of Youth Affairs – previously held by former Environment Minister and now new Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon – appears to have been ditched in the reshuffle.
Rising star Ms Scanlon has moved from the Environment portfolio to take on Housing as her sole responsibility, signalling the government’s renewed focus on the issue amid rising homelessness.
Ms Scanlon said “there are many cost of living challenges” beyond housing policies that needs to be addressed to ensure younger people can afford to have a roof over their heads.
She admitted she is yet to be briefed on the number of Queenslanders on the social housing wait list but says her status as a renter makes her uniquely positioned to understand the challenges for tenants.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said he’ll work closely with the new Housing Minister in his capacity as Planning Minister to ensure the right levers are being pulled to provide stock. The lack of rentals and homes available more broadly on the market has been identified as a key issue contributing to housing stress and homelessness.
Youth Justice has been taken from Leanne Linard and delivered to Di Farmer.
Ms Farmer said she plans to conduct an audit of the programs and strategies in place to address youth offending and was willing to ditch approaches not up to scratch.
“We need to make sure every program is actually delivering results,” she said.
Ms Farmer said she was inspired to deliver policies that help young children facing challenges while also ensuring families feel safe in their homes.
“I feel really passionate about this portfolio,” she said.
The new Youth Justice Minister said she will be speaking immediately with experts and stakeholders in the field.
“There are many opposing views in youth justice,” Ms Farmer said, promising to listen to all ideas.
Ms Linard said there are “no quick fixes” to turn the tide of youth offending when asked about her demotion.
“I always listened to stakeholders and I engaged with victims,” she said.
“I wouldn’t do any of those things differently.”
Ms Palaszczuk dismissed questions from reporters that the shuffle of Yvette D’Ath from the controversial Health portfolio to a high-ranking role of Attorney-General was not due to her close links to the faction ally, saying “she’s the best person for that job”.
Ms D’Ath said she doesn’t “at all” feel betrayed by the Premier after being taken off the health portfolio.
Ms Palaszczuk said she was “firmly focused on the future”, and the key issues affecting Queenslanders.
“Our government cares about Queenslanders and what they’re thinking – I have listened and I have acted,” she said.
“I’m going to use the experience I have as Premier to have a critical focus on shaping a better and fairer Queensland, now and for the future.
“That’s why I have refreshed the government by refreshing the Cabinet, and today marks a new beginning.”
Ms Palaszczuk says she has listened to Queenslanders about their concerns in the three key issues of health, housing and youth justice. “Both health and housing are national issues but they’re having a big impact on Queenslanders,” the Premier.
Ms Palaszczuk said she has urged departments and director generals to work more collaboratively, rather than operating in “silos”.
“We need to respond faster to issues,” she said.
The rare reshuffle has also seen an Indigenous woman in charge of First Nations Affairs for the first time in the state, with Minister Leeanne Enoch dropped from the Housing portfolio to instead lead Queensland’s Path to Treaty negotiations and become the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partnerships.
It’s understood the ultimate catalyst to push go was the realisation it was time for a reset according to insiders, with the Premier feeling the timing was right.
But the decision not to bring fresh faces into cabinet has been viewed by some as an error that won’t track well with the voters, particularly with certain ministers returning to portfolios they had previously held prior to the 2020 election.
A senior Labor source said Ms Palaszczuk’s decision came after unrelenting pressure across the troublesome trio of housing, health, and youth justice – hitting a crescendo over the last fortnight.
“It couldn’t have waited any longer,” they said.
“You don’t need polling to show you that we have issues in those three areas.”
The LNP earlier slammed Thursday’s state government cabinet reshuffle as “same old clowns in the same old circus”, and chastised Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk for not booting under-siege Health Minister Yvette D’Ath from cabinet.
Deputy Leader Jarrod Bleijie – speaking ahead of the 11am swearing in of new ministers at government house – said “this is not a reshuffle, this is reheating a bad lunch”.
“What we have seen over the last 48 hours, in respect to the chaos and the crisis and the dysfunction, that this is clearly the same old clowns in the same old circus,” he said.
“Seriously, the Premier has lost touch with Queenslanders, this is completely all about the Premier trying to reset her government.
“If she had shown true leadership, she would have sacked Yvette D’Ath.”
Mr Bleijie also took a swipe at Ms D’Ath’s reported return to Attorney-General – saying “she was the one who weakened the youth justice laws”.
“This is about what is in her (the Premier’s) best interests politically – not what is in the best interests of Queenslanders,” he said.
“When this was first rumoured to be happening the Premier could have dealt with this quickly.
“Instead we’re hearing reports of Ministers – who have served as bad Ministers – not going to be sacked as they should be, they’re just going to be shuffled around and remain in cabinet.”
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