Moreton Bay voters could determine next government after Labor strengthens its grip on the region

Fallout from Jackie Trad’s resignation has strengthened a state Labor stronghold north of Brisbane, putting voters in poll position to make or break government on October 31.

THIS week’s Cabinet reshuffle has put an unlikely region in poll position to make or break Labor’s chances of returning to government on October 31.

The reshuffle, forced by Jackie Trad’s resignation amid a Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) investigation, has left the Moreton Bay region with three senior ministers and one assistant minister, along with two government backbenchers.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles applauds Jackie Trad for standing down

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

Ms Trad resigned following revelations the CCC was investigating claims she interfered with the recruitment of a school principal in South Brisbane.

She has denied any wrongdoing.

Member for Murrumba and Health Minister Steven Miles was sworn in as deputy premier on Monday, while Member for Pine Rivers Nikki Boyd will join his team as assistant health minister.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles and former deputy Jackie Trad in 2018. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

“I am confident that the team that we now have in place will work together very well and will ensure that right across the state we have a focus on what is the challenge for every government in the world right now – the health response to COVID-19 and the economic response to COVID-19,” he said.

“I certainly think that the decisions that (the premier) has made are good ones.”

Member for Pine Rivers Nikki Boyd becomes the state’s first assistant health minister, a new role largely created to assist in the COVID-19 health recovery.

Ms Boyd told Quest Community News she would also assist with community health services, supporting frontline workers and capital works to support job creation.

“It’s an area I’m really passionate about,” Ms Boyd said.

Assistant Health Minister Nikki Boyd at the Pine Rivers Community Health Centre.

“I’ll be working with Steven Miles around COVID and recovery from a health point of view.

“We want to ensure that we stay ahead of this virus and Queenslanders have done a good job of smashing the COVID-19 infection curve.

“It’s a great challenge, though I’ll still continue to work hard for Pine Rivers.”

Moreton Bay is also home to Attorney-General and Leader of the House Yvette D’Ath, Police and Corrective Services Minister Mark Ryan and government backbenchers Shane King and Chris Whiting.

Steven Miles swears in as the Queensland Deputy Premier at Government House in Brisbane, Monday, May 11. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

LNP members Peter Dutton, Luke Howarth and Terry Young occupy the federal seats, the latter unseating Labor’s Susan Lamb at the 2019 election.

Mr Miles, who grew up in Petrie, was parachuted into Murrumba at the 2017 election after being punted from his former seat of Mt Coot-tha when it merged with Indooroopilly to form the new seat of Maiwar.

He won the seat comfortably, with a 6.3 per cent margin.

Mr Ryan holds Morayfield with a 13.5 per cent margin, Ms D’Ath holds Redcliffe by 7.6 per cent and Ms Boyd has a 4.1 per cent margin in Pine Rivers.

Mr Whiting and Mr King hold comfortable margins in their seats of 8.3 and 7.1 respectively.

Before entering parliament in 2015, Ms Boyd was union organiser at United Voice, now part of the United Workers Union.

She fought for “a fair go for health professionals, early childhood educators and aged carers, professions” and said she would continue fighting for better health care is the state.

“The vital job of caring for Queensland families by delivering the best possible healthcare and hospital system, particularly in the events of COVID-19, is my focus,” she said.