Premier David Crisafulli trips up on health, tourism

Premier David Crisafulli can’t escape the fact his new Cabinet is not what he promised, writes state political editor Hayden Johnson.

David Crisafulli. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen / The Australian

Premier David Crisafulli found the right structure in his first Cabinet, yet can’t escape the fact it’s not what he promised.

Axing tourism from his remit and taking health off Ros Bates won’t create long-lasting political headaches for Mr Crisafulli, but it should prove he can’t say one thing and do another.

Nobody believes the politician, who at every chance has laboured her history as a registered nurse, suddenly doesn’t want to continue as health minister.

Ms Bates told sceptical journalists she was after a “fresh start” nine times.

Sounds like widely shared, pre-prepared talking points.

On tourism, the Premier said revelations of the “inertia” within the Department of Environment had come to light after the election was reason enough to offload the portfolio to Andrew Powell.

Odd, considering Mr Crisafulli spent some time at the Tourism and Transport Forum on August 24 criticising environmental-related delays to tourism projects.

These broken promises are far from politically fatal, but it should demonstrate to Mr Crisafulli Queenslanders and journalists are watching.

Combined with axing the Truth Telling and Healing Inquiry before the Cabinet was even sworn in, Mr Crisafulli’s premiership has faltered out of the gates.

Queensland could have continued this Truth Telling and Healing Inquiry without being bound to repatriation, treaty or compensation.

Unlike other reports, this would have sat on a Queensland Library shelf to keep the pain and suffering of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people alive forever.

Instead, the inquiry has been axed for no other reason than the government’s desire not to push ahead with Path to Treaty.

Mr Crisafulli says he is “serious about giving good outcomes” to First Nations people.

Why not start by acknowledging government should learn from the past?

Originally published as Premier David Crisafulli trips up on health, tourism