Crisafulli defends assistant ministry as Labor claims more snouts in trough

Queensland’s larger assistant ministry will have the same key performance indicators and work demands ministers receive, says Premier David Crisafulli.

Premier David Crisafulli with Amanda Stoker and other assistant ministers at Parliament House on Sunday. Picture: Richard Walker

An expanded assistant ministry will be set high standards to deliver for Queenslanders or be booted for someone else, Premier David Crisafulli has vowed.

He said the 10-person assistant ministry would have the same key performance indicators and work demands ministers received.

Labor has criticised the expansion of the assistant ministry from eight people to 10, but Mr Crisafulli argues it will deliver outcomes.

“We intend to make sure they’re put to work,” he said.

“I’ve been very critical of not only some of the titles that have existed, but also some of the lack of contact.

“You’ll be seeing the visibility of it through their diaries.

“I’ll be sitting down with each of them when we get the chance collectively and be outlining my expectations around meetings and the work ethic that’s required and ultimately, Queensland will be able to hold them accountable.”

Rather than mirroring the work of ministers, Mr Crisafulli’s assistant ministers have been given related issues and tasked with improving outcomes.

Former education spokesman Christian Rowan will take responsibility for “new citizens”, which Mr Crisafulli said would complement the work of Multiculturalism Minister Fiona Simpson.

Premier David Crisafulli (centre front) and Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie (left rear) with assistant ministers at Parliament House on Sunday. Picture: Richard Walker

“Multiculturalism will be around those policy settings, around making sure that we don’t just focus on festivals,” he said.

“Dr Rowan, in his role … will be specifically tasked with wrapping his arms around those people who become new Australians and letting them know that they matter.

“One’s a policy setting and the other is about human interaction.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie criticised the “union hacks” elevated to the assistant ministry in the former Labor government, saying the LNP’s assistant ministers would work hard.

“Our assistant ministers are young, vibrant, have experience running businesses, serving on local government, real life, real Queensland experience from all across Queensland,” he said.

“They will work hard and they’re not going to be lazy like Labor was.”

Opposition frontbencher Mark Bailey criticised Mr Crisafulli for expanding the assistant ministry.

“It’s a cost-of-living crisis and what we have are more LNP snouts in the trough,” he said.

Member for Condamine Pat Weir will be nominated by the government to become speaker.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge and extremely humbled by the nomination,” he said.

Originally published as Crisafulli defends assistant ministry as Labor claims more snouts in trough