Daniel Andrews’ second-term cabinet confirmed

Women have been promoted to key positions and factional powerbroker Adem Somyurek is back in the fold.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has unveiled his second-term cabinet, with women promoted to key positions and factional powerbroker Adem Somyurek back in the fold as Minister for Local Government and Small Business.

The Greens have already slammed Mr Somyurek’s appointment, after he stood down in 2015 over allegations he had bullied his female chief of staff.

With the count in her upper house seat of Northern Victorian still too close to call, Jaclyn Symes has been provisionally appointed to replace Jaala Pulford as Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council and Minister for Agriculture and Regional Victoria.

All new ministers except Ms Symes are due to be sworn in at Government House this afternoon.

Ms Symes also takes Resources from Tim Pallas, who remains Treasurer and takes on the new portfolio of Economic Development.

Ms Pulford and Mr Pallas will retain responsibility for Ms Symes’s portfolios until her election is confirmed.

Mr Pallas also takes Industrial Relations from Natalie Hutchins, who has stepped down from cabinet after losing her husband to cancer last year.

Ms Hutchins will become Parliamentary Secretary for Treaty, assisting Gavin Jennings who takes on her old portfolio of Aboriginal Affairs, as well as remaining Legislative Council leader and Special Minister of State, and taking on the new position of Minister for Priority Precincts.

Jill Hennessy moves from Health to Attorney-General and the new portfolio of Workplace Safety, replacing Martin Pakula who takes on the new portfolio of Jobs and dumped minister Philip Dalidakis’s portfolio of Innovation and Trade, as well as keeping Racing and taking Tourism and Major Events from John Eren, who has left cabinet for health reasons.

Jacinta Allan remains Leader of the House, swapping Public Transport and Major Projects for the new portfolio of Transport Infrastructure.

It has been the great honour of my career to have served as Victoria’s 53rd Attorney General for the past four years after four years as Shadow AG. And it’s my great pleasure to hand the reins to my dear friend @JillHennessyMP. It could not be in better hands.

— Martin Pakula (@MartinPakulaMP) November 29, 2018

New cabinet member Melissa Horne, who previously worked as communications director at the Level Crossing Removal Authority, becomes Minister for Public Transport, Ports and Freight.

Former ports, roads and road safety minister Luke Donnellan takes on the new portfolio of Child Protection, as well as Disability, Ageing and Carers, with Roads, Road Safety and the TAC going to Jaala Pulford, who also takes Fishing and Boating.

Martin Foley relinquished Disability, Ageing and Carers, but retains his responsibilities for Mental Health, Equality and Creative Industries.

Former industry and employment minister Ben Carroll moves to a law and order portfolio, taking on the newly created position of Minister for Crime Prevention, Corrections, Youth Justice and Victim Support.

Lily D’Ambrosio remains as Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, relinquishing her suburban development role for the newly created portfolio of Solar Homes.

Marlene Kairouz takes on Suburban Development and keeps her portfolio of Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, relinquishing local government to Mr Somyurek.

Jenny Mikakos swaps families and children and youth affairs for Health and Ambulance Services, previously held by Jill Hennessy.

James Merlino remains as Education Minister.

Lisa Neville keeps Police, Emergency Services and Water.

Robin Scott takes on the new role of Assistant Treasurer, as well as taking John Eren’s old portfolio of Veterans.

Gayle Tierney keeps Training, Skills and Higher Education, with Mr Dalidakis’s old role of International Education scrapped.

Cabinet newbie Gabrielle Williams takes on Ms Hutchins’s old role as Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence and Women, as well as taking on the new portfolio of Youth.

Richard Wynne retains Planning and Housing, taking Multicultural Affairs from Robin Scott.

Mr Andrews yesterday defended his decision to promote Mr Somyurek back into cabinet, despite saying he was dumping Philip Dalidakis to make room for more women.

Mr Somyurek was forced to resign in 2015 over allegations he had bullied his female chief of staff.

“Adem Somyurek lost his job. I think that’s a pretty significant calling out and a pretty significant price to be paid,” Mr Andrews said.

“I think he is a better man than he has ever been, and that is a significant thing. If I wasn’t confident of that, then he wouldn’t be back.

“I’ll leave you to interpret who stood aside for who. What Philip Dalidakis did was make way for a massive structural and cultural change.”

Mr Dalidakis, who has been appointed chairman of the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee, has been making the most of his freedom, tweeting about having time to spend with his family and local community.

Greens Melbourne City Councillor Rohan Leppert hit out at the decision to make Mr Somyurek Local Government Minister on Twitter.

Adam Somyurek is the new Minister for Local Government. He will have carriage of the Local Government Act review, including its various new provisions for workplace bullying and harassment. Is this some kind of sick joke?

— Rohan Leppert (@RohanLeppert) November 29, 2018

“He will have carriage of the Local Government Act review, including its various new provisions for workplace bullying and harassment. Is this some kind of sick joke?” Mr Leppert tweeted.