Likely Labor Party contenders for Curtis Pitt’s Treasurer role mooted
THREE senior cabinet ministers are in contention to take the treasurer’s job from Curtis Pitt should he fall in a reshuffle, as Labor edges closer to forming government.
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THREE senior cabinet ministers are in contention to take the treasurer’s job from Curtis Pitt should he fall in a reshuffle, as Labor edges closer to forming government.
Ministers from the last Palaszczuk Government, Jackie Trad, Cameron Dick and Kate Jones, are being mooted as possible options to take over from Mr Pitt.
The Courier-Mail revealed less than a fortnight ago that the knives were out for Mr Pitt after a series of perceived campaign bungles.
But Mr Pitt has repeatedly claimed that his future in the role is secure.
“I don’t think anything is up in the air,” he said yesterday. “The Premier certainly made her support for me clear.
“I really don’t want to give any more credence to the things raised during the election campaign because I’m very proud of my record in terms of managing finances.”
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk gave him her public backing when moves to replace him first emerged.
No decision on Cabinet changes will be made until the seat count is clear.
Labor factions are watching the results closely.
Mr Pitt is expected to remain in Cabinet if it is reshuffled but there has been speculation he could become Speaker.
Several other options for a Speaker are also likely to be on the table.
Some Labor members believe rogue former minister Jo-Ann Miller had been eyeing the role, but she is unlikely to be rewarded following her campaign antics.
She threatened Ms Palaszczuk’s anti-One Nation message when she heartily embraced Pauline Hanson during the final week.
Should Ms Trad be given the treasurer’s portfolio – considered the most likely scenario – it would be in addition to her role as Deputy Premier, a model commonly used by Labor in the past.
Former deputy premiers who also took on the treasury include Anna Bligh, Andrew Fraser and Terry Mackenroth.
Ms Palaszczuk’s bid to secure the 47 seats she needs to govern with a majority on the floor of the House remained in limbo yesterday, with 11 seats still too close to call.
Labor is sitting on 43 seats to the LNP’s 36 and Katter’s Australian Party has two seats with the potential to secure a third. One Nation is on track to pick up one seat and independent Sandra Bolton is expected to gain the seat of Noosa from the LNP.
The ALP remains confident it will pick up the four extra seats it needs to form majority government.
Ms Palaszczuk refused to comment on the state of play yesterday as she held meetings at the Executive Building.
The media was invited in yesterday morning as the Premier, Ms Trad and Local Government Minister Mark Furner caught up with the Local Government Association of Queensland to discuss cyclone recovery.
Ms Palaszczuk did not take questions, however.
“We are getting on with the job,” she said.
Originally published as Likely Labor Party contenders for Curtis Pitt’s Treasurer role mooted
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