Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff to relinquish health as cabinet reshuffle announced

Tasmanian premier Jeremy Rockliff says he will relinquish the health portfolio as part of a cabinet reshuffle in the coming days. Find out the latest details.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff at Wrest Point. Picture: Chris Kidd

Premier Jeremy Rockliff says he will step down as Minister for Health in a cabinet reshuffle to be announced in the coming days.

Addressing a Committee for Economic Development of Australia lunch in Hobart on Thursday, Mr Rockliff said the reshuffle would not see any new members in cabinet, but rather a redistribution of portfolios among current ministers.

“In a few days’ time I will be announcing some changes to our internal line-up, to ensure that the talented members of our team are best aligned to the important tasks ahead,” he said.

“I won’t be changing the people within Cabinet, just making some small changes to the roles they are doing.

“As part of that, I will retain the Mental Health and Wellbeing ministry, but I will hand over the reins of the health portfolio to another capable member of my team, and instead take on new responsibilities.”

RHH departments ED and cardiology units, Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Assistant Nursing Director Erin Smallbon. Picture: Chris Kidd

Mr Rockliff thanked the health workforce for their efforts on behalf of Tasmanians and again ruled out an early election.

“We were elected in 2014 with a majority mandate and a clear plan to deliver a brighter future for all Tasmanians,” he said.

“That mandate was confirmed in 2018, and again just over two years ago in 2021 when we were re-elected in majority.

“The only way there will be an early election will be if Labor and the Greens decide to once again team up and put their own political self-interest ahead of the interests of the state.”

He acknowledged the two Liberal defectors had made life harder for the government.

“And can I say at this point – I have no personal beef with Mr [John] Tucker and Mrs [Lara] Alexander,” he said.

“I am grateful that they have both committed in writing to provide us with supply and confidence.

“But — and I believe this is a very important point — neither were elected as an independent.

“Rather, they were elected as Liberals on our policy platform and plan, and of providing a stable majority Government.

“And, in my view, they retain an obligation to Tasmanians to continue to provide that stability and certainty until May 2025.”

Premier Jeremy Rockliff at Wrest Point. Picture: Chris Kidd

The reshuffle will be the fifth since the 2021 state election.

Acting Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said it was overdue because Mr Rockliff was clearly distracted from health by the stadium.

“This is more of the Liberals moving the cabinet chairs around on the Titanic,” she said, adding that the Premier didn’t have a lot of good choices.

Labor’s Dean Winter predicted a reshuffle a week ago.

“Which one of these underperforming ministers is he going to promote?” he asked on Thursday.

“Is he going to promote Guy Barnett, the minister who’s been responsible for power prices going up and up and up?

“Is he going to promote Madeleine Ogilvie who’s responsible for the biggest mess in the racing industry in Tasmania in history?

“Is he going to promote Felix Ellis who seems to have single-handedly stuffed up skills, stuffed up the forest industry and stuffed up almost every portfolio he’s been given?

Mr Rockliff celebrated the 21st anniversary of his election to state parliament on Thursday.

Originally published as Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff to relinquish health as cabinet reshuffle announced