Ministers sworn in to new roles amid Jackie Trad’s resignation

Queensland’s new-look Cabinet has been sworn-in following Jackie Trad’s resignation from her Deputy Premier and Treasurer roles.

LABOR backbencher and Left Faction member Nikki Boyd has ascended to the role of assistant minister for the Deputy Premier and Health as part of the urgent Palaszczuk Government Cabinet carve up.

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Asked if this was a new era for her Government, following the reshuffle, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said, “I wouldn’t say it’s a new era, but what it is definitely is we are in the middle of a crisis, and we need to respond to that crisis and we have the best people in the best jobs to lead this state forward”.

“It’s a strong team, it’s a dedicated team and it’s a team that’s going to be listening and delivering for Queenslanders”.

The Palaszczuk government's front bench has been reshuffled after Jackie Trad resigned from her ministerial duties as deputy premier and treasurer, over an investigation into the appointment of a Brisbane principal.

The Premier said she wasn’t looking backwards.

It comes after Jackie Trad resigned from the ministry on the weekend following revelations the state’s corruption watchdog would be investigating claims she interfered with the recruitment of a school principal in South Brisbane.

Ms Trad has denied any wrongdoing.

Asked whether she missed having Ms Trad at today’s Cabinet meeting, Ms Palaszczuk said, “As we know, people make great sacrifices when they are away from their families and they are serving this state, and Jackie served her state”.

The Premier said Labor would be campaigning right across Queensland, when asked if she would campaign alongside her former deputy in South Brisbane.

Steven Miles added Deputy Premier to his portfolio this afternoon, while Cameron Dick became Treasurer, Kate Jones added State Development Minister to her portfolio and Glenn Butcher as Regional Development and Manufacturing Minister.

But Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said today’s swearing-in ceremony was “just more musical chairs”.

“It was a bad government yesterday, it was a bad government the week before and it’s still a bad government today,” she said.

“When you have a government that has integrity scandal after integrity scandal, it is no wonder the people of Queensland feel let down by this government.”

Ms Frecklington would not say if she believed Ms Trad should resign from State Parliament, insisting that the former deputy premier was still an “extremely influential” member of the Government.

“That’s a matter for Jackie Trad,” she said.

“That will be up to the people of South Brisbane. But I will note that the Premier of Queensland is backing her previous deputy.”