Winners and losers of Daniel Andrews’ cabinet shake-up

A conflict of interest has forced Upper house MP Lizzie Blandthorn out of the planning portfolio as part of Daniel Andrews’ rejigged cabinet.

A cabinet shake-up in the re-elected Andrews Government will alter departments across Victoria, with multiple ministers taking on new responsibilities.

Upper house MP Lizzie Blandthorn has been promoted and will move away from the planning portfolio, solving an ongoing problem where she had to remove herself from decisions.

Premier Daniel Andrews and his new team of ministers were sworn in at government house on Monday, with some key changes made to their responsibilities.

Parliament will sit on December 20 and MPs sworn in following the results of the November 26 poll.

Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan will remain in charge of the state’s big build agenda, the Suburban Rail Loop and the Commonwealth Games.

But Sonya Kilkenny has been given the at-times difficult role of planning minister while maintaining her responsibilities for outdoor recreation such as boating and fishing.

Ms Blandthorn had previously been leading the portfolio but conflict of interest concerns were flagged because her brother is the director of a lobbying firm that often engages in planning matters.

This conflict was declared immediately and a process put in place to prevent any issues, however the Cabinet changes mean this process will be easier.

Lizzie Blandthorn has been moved out of the planning portfolio. Picture: Sarah Matray

Instead, Ms Blandthorn will step into the portfolios of disability, ageing, carers, child protection and she will lead the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.

She will also be the Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, with the roles elevating to her to being a lead minister within the Andrews Government.

Mr Andrews denied that the move away from planning was to avoid a conflict and said the election result gave Ms Blandthorn the chance to take on a leadership position.

He said child protection was also an extremely challenging area.

“Most nights you take two bags worth of paperwork home ... If you are on for child protection there’d be a third bag and you dreaded opening it because it’s incredibly emotional, draining and taxing,” Mr Andrews said.

“It’s very hard work and I think Liz is the perfect first to do it.”

Danny Pearson will remain as Assistant Treasurer but he will also take control of consumer affairs, WorkSafe and the TAC and lead a newly created Department of Government Services.

Both WorkSafe and the TAC will be rolled into the Department of Treasury and Finance amid ongoing financial pressures to their viability as insurance schemes.

This year the state was forced to tip $450m into Worksafe, with international markets volatile and workplace claims soaring after eligibility was expanded to cover mental health concerns.

“There are some challenges there and we will need to deal with those and I think the Assistant Treasurer is very well placed to do that,” Mr Andrews said.

The DGS will bring together key services provided to the public with the intention of making it easier to enforce cybersecurity and to perform tasks such as paying bills and seeking registrations or licences.

Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio will also be given new titles as the minister for the State Electricity Commission, climate action, and resources.

She will oversee an altered department that will now be known as the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, but which also includes resources and agriculture.

This change has been done to bring together the main areas of interest in reducing the state’s emissions.

Planning, which previously went with this department, will be moved into the Department of Transport.

Early Childhood Minister Ingrid Stitt will add the Environment portfolio.

Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas will stay in her senior role and take on responsibility for health infrastructure, medical research and become the government’s leader in the lower house.

Gabrielle Williams will wrap ambulance services into her existing titles overseeing mental health, First Peoples and Treaty.

Jacinta Allan (left) will stay at the helm of Victoria’s big build, while Sonya Kilkenny (right) will take over as planning minister. Picture: AAP

Colin Brooks will move from child protection to housing and multicultural affairs.

Training and Skills Minister Gayle Tierney will be placed in charge of another altered department, which will now be known as the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions.

Melissa Horne will pick up the roads and road safety portfolios and continue her work in ports, freight, local government, and regulation of casinos, gaming and liquor.

Ben Carroll will remain as head of public transport, industry and innovation and add manufacturing sovereignty and employment to his responsibilities.

Ros Spence will continue her work in family violence and add suburban development while Water, Equality and Regional Development Minister Harriet Shing will add Commonwealth Games Legacy.

She will not be sworn in until final counting is completed for the upper house.

Many ministers will also remain unchanged.

Tim Pallas remains Treasurer, Anthony Carbines will stay on in police, Natalie Hutchins will head education and Steve Dimopoulos continues in tourism, major events and creative industries.

Jaclyn Symes continues as Attorney-General and Emergency Services Minister.

Newly promoted Enver Erdogan will oversee corrections, youth justice and victim support while Natalie Suleyman will also enter Cabinet as minister in charge of youth, small business and veterans.

Ms Allan said she was proud that the majorty of Cabinet members and parliamentary secretaries were women.

“It is a strong diverse cabinet and government and we will certainly see that reflected on the on the government benches whem parliament returns,” she said.

Late last week, it was revealed Shaun Leane would not be returned to the ministry after a caucus vote to elect the new frontbench.

Although several right-aligned MPs have been promoted to Cabinet roles or minstries, there was some internal disquiet on Monday that the premier’s Socialist Left faction had received a majority of nominations for parliamentary secretarites.

These roles are not decided by the caucus.