Shannon Fentiman could be state’s best asset in health crisis fix

The responsibility of fixing Queensland’s crumbling health system will be the ultimate test of new minister Shannon Fentiman, with insiders hoping she’ll be able to challenge a department set in its ways.

Depositing the responsibility of fixing Queensland’s crumbling health system on the shoulders of rising Labor star Shannon Fentiman could be the government’s best ticket at shifting the dial on the issue according to Labor insiders.

And it is expected to be the ultimate test of her credentials, with Ms Fentiman’s performance in health expected to either propel leadership aspirations or torpedo her chances.

But Labor sources, particularly Ms Fentiman’s supporters, insist the main purpose of lumping her with the hardest portfolio isn’t to kneecap her legitimate leadership prospects. But it’s accepted the difficulty of the health portfolio could have the added outcome of keeping an incoming leadership threat at bay.

Notoriously bureaucratic Queensland Health is seen as an unwieldy behemoth reluctant to change, with some hoping Ms Fentiman will be able to challenge and shake up a department set in its ways.

Shannon Fentiman is set to take over the health portfolio after a major cabinet shake-up. .Picture: David Clark

A Labor insider said the minister was a “good communicator” with a track record of handling the bad and the pleasant well.

They said health was the “ultimate test” as the “hardest portfolio within government”.

Once sworn in, Ms Fentiman faces the massive task of handling a health sector in crisis. It’s understood Ms Fentiman is aware of the enormity of the assignment and apprehensive but prepared.

Ms Fentiman took on Attorney-General, Justice and Domestic and Family Violence after the 2020 election and become the government’s main reformer, taking on work that had failed to get on the agenda for years, including decriminalising sex work.

Ms Fentiman also steered the government through the inquiry into the dealings of gambling giant Star and had part responsibility of reforming the failings of the forensic DNA lab.

But Ms Fentiman’s rise to legitimate leadership prospect has not been scandal free, with the MP wearing calls for her sacking as child safety minister in 2016 as Queensland rose to have the second-highest number of child deaths.