Meaghan Scanlon: Gold Coast MP promoted to Cabinet in post-election shake-up

GOLD Coast MP Meaghan Scanlon has been elevated to Cabinet as part of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s wide-ranging frontbench shake-up.

GOLD Coast MP Meaghan Scanlon has been elevated to Cabinet as part of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s wide-ranging frontbench shake-up.

Ms Palaszczuk on Wednesday afternoon named Ms Scanlon Minister for the Environment, the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Youth Affairs.

Once sworn in on Thursday, she will be the youngest Minister in the state’s history.

Member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Former Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Minister Stirling Hinchliffe has been named Tourism Minister, replacing the retired Kate Jones.

Mark Bailey will remain Transport Minister, overseeing some of the city’s biggest infrastructure projects - the $1 billion M1 widening, the $709 million light rail stage 3 extension and the $2.4 billion Coomera Connector.

The Premier said she expected her ministers to focus squarely on Queensland’s economic recovery and providing the services all Queenslanders - including seniors and those in regional Queensland - need.

“Queenslanders expect us to get on with implementing our Economic Recovery Plan,” the Premier said.

“They expect the roads, schools and hospitals we need and the jobs that go with building them.

“It is our job to get on with the job and that’s exactly what we will do.”

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GOLD Coast business leaders are hopeful the city’s only Labor MP will step up and out of the shadow of former tourism minister Kate Jones as a Cabinet minister.

Gold Coast North Chamber of Commerce CEO Garry Mays said Ms Scanlon had been “overshadowed” by Ms Jones during previous encounters.

“In a lot of ways Kate Jones was a very good advocate for the Gold Coast,” he said.

“Hopefully (Meaghan Scanlon) gives us a lot more clout.

“It’s an interesting concept. Why would Australia’s second largest city need its own minister? But if it gives us the ability to communicate our thoughts into Cabinet it’s got to be a positive.”

Ms Scanlon has so far declined to comment on the position, but the promotion would be the latest step in a rapid rise for the 27-year-old, who snapped up the marginal Gaven seat from the LNP in 2017.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate welcomed the idea when approached by the Bulletin on Thursday.

“It’s fantastic that the Premier has recognised the importance of the Gold Coast to all of Queensland,” he said.

“We know that when the Gold Coast economy fires the rest of Queensland hums. And right now we need all the help we can get as we pick up the pieces following COVID.

“Meaghan has been a hardworking member for the people of Gaven and I look forward to seeing that work ethic applied across the whole city as we work together for its betterment.”

His comments echoed those of Destination Gold Coast chairman Paul Donovan, who said: “(A Minister for the Gold Coast) would be welcome, we need all the help we can get.”

It would also be the first time the Gold Coast has been home to a State Cabinet minister since the Newman government’s defeat in 2015.

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Ms Scanlon is set to be promoted to the Ministry. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Deputy Premier Steven Miles and Treasurer Cameron Dick have already been confirmed as remaining in their existing portfolios.