Jaclyn Symes promoted to become Victorian Attorney-General in cabinet reshuffle
Jaclyn Symes is Victoria’s next Attorney-General in the Andrews government’s fourth cabinet reshuffle this year.
Two regional Victorian women are the biggest winners out of Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ latest cabinet reshuffle, with northern Victorian MP and Labor upper house leader Jaclyn Symes becoming Attorney-General and member for the central Victorian seat of Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas entering cabinet in Ms Symes’ previous role as Minister for Regional Development and Minister for Agriculture.
The Premier’s fourth cabinet reshuffle this year follows former A-G Jill Hennessy's decision last week to go to the backbench to allow her to spend more time with her teenage daughters.
Ms Symes, who grew up in Benalla in Victoria‘s northeast, studied law at Deakin University and worked for Bracks and Brumby attorney-general Rob Hulls.
She entered state parliament in 2014 and was promoted to government whip in the Legislative Council the following year, before entering cabinet in the agriculture portfolio and as deputy upper house leader in 2018.
Ms Symes took over from retiring Labor veteran Gavin Jennings as upper house leader in March. She will retain her current position as Resources Minister in addition to her new role.
Ms Thomas, who grew up in Wodonga in Victoria‘s northeast, is a former teacher, union official, adviser to former higher education minister Lynne Kosky and public servant.
She also entered state parliament in 2014, and has served as cabinet secretary since 2016.
Labor‘s member for the southeastern Melbourne sandbelt seat of Carrum, Sonya Kilkenny, will take over as cabinet secretary, while fellow southeast member for Oakleigh Steve Dimopoulos becomes Parliamentary Secretary for Mental Health in addition to his current role as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier.
Eastern Victorian upper house MP Harriet Shing swaps the mental health portfolio to become Parliamentary Secretary for Water, in addition to the Creative Industries and Equality Parl Sec roles she took over in June.
Former paramedic and ambulance union boss Steve McGhie takes over from Anthony Carbines as Parliamentary Secretary for Health, but Mr Carbines retains his current role as Parliamentary Secretary for Carers and Volunteers.
Mr Jennings‘ resignation prompted a cabinet reshuffle in March, while the departures from cabinet of Adem Somyurek, Marlene Kairouz and Robin Scott amid a branch-stacking scandal prompted a second unplanned reshuffle in June.
Jenny Mikakos‘s resignation over Victoria’s hotel quarantine debacle in September prompted a third reshuffle, with Ms Hennessy’s decision to move to the backbench the catalyst for the latest appointments.
The new ministers were sworn in at a ceremony attended by the Premier at Government House.
Mr Andrews has not planned any press conferences on what is his last day of work before he takes a fortnight of leave, despite lingering questions following the tabling in state parliament on Monday of retired judge Jennifer Coate’s report on the state government’s bungled hotel quarantine program.
Deputy Premier James Merlino will be acting premier while Mr Andrews is on leave.
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