Queensland Premier David Crisafulli ’breaks promise’ in naming new cabinet

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has tasked former Liberal National Party leaders Deb Frecklington and Tim Nicholls with delivering on his key election promises of resolving crime and health ‘crises’, as he unveiled his new cabinet on Friday.

Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie and Premier David Crisafulli at the swearing-in ceremony in Brisbane on Friday. Picture: Steve Pohlner

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Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has tasked former Liberal National Party leaders Deb Frecklington and Tim Nicholls with delivering on his key election promises of fixing crime and health “crises”, as he unveiled his new cabinet line-up on Friday.

A week after leading the LNP to victory, Mr Crisafulli broke his first election promise of no changes to his frontbench, replacing registered nurse Ros Bates with Mr Nicholls in the mammoth $30bn health portfolio.

A former treasurer in the Newman government who led the party to defeat at the 2017 election, Mr Nicholls will be expected to halt growth of the public surgery waiting list and reduce ambulance ramping to below 30 per cent within four years.

While the trouble-prone health portfolio is notoriously dubbed “the poisoned chalice”, Mr Nicholls declared on Friday that he had been handed the “the cup of opportunity”.

“It’s a personal challenge for me,” he said.

“I’m particularly pleased that Ros is on the expenditure review committee … and I’m very hopeful for a sympathetic ear, because I do know how treasurers behave, and I know we need to balance it up.”

Moggill MP Christian Rowan was among the few losers in the overhaul, dumped from the new cabinet after serving as opposition spokesman in the senior education portfolio. He has been replaced in education by longserving Gold Coast-based MP John Paul Langbroek, another former LNP leader.

Mr Crisafulli had given repeated assurances before and during the election campaign that “the shadow cabinet I am taking to the election will be the cabinet after the election if we are elected to government”.

The Australian last month revealed that despite his public comments, the LNP leader was plotting a post-election redesign of his cabinet, with Ms Bates being considered for another role.

Mr Crisafulli said Ms Bates had been “promoted to one of the most senior roles in this government”, after she was sworn in as Finance, Trade and Employment Minister.

“Tim will take over from Ros Bates, who, having requested a new challenge after the relentless prosecution of health for two terms, has been promoted into the Ministry of Finance, Trade, Employment and Training, where she will help lead the charge on securing opportunities for investment and jobs,” he said.

The Australian on Monday revealed there was some concern in senior LNP ranks about Ms Bates remaining in health, with a push to install Mr Nicholls in the role.

Ms Bates insisted on Friday it was her decision to move.

“Well, I was happy to continue in any role that David Crisafulli wanted me to do, but I asked for a fresh challenge,” she said.

Ms Frecklington, who led the LNP to defeat at the 2020 election, has been made Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, and will oversee huge reforms to the criminal justice system and the rebuilding of the state’s beleaguered DNA laboratory.

Minutes after her swearing in, Ms Frecklington said she would be meeting with Dr Kirsty Wright – who first exposed the DNA lab disaster – as a matter of priority.

“As you would know from the previous parliament, I am very passionate about that issue and something I’m taking extremely seriously,” she said.

The 19-member cabinet, which includes six women, was sworn in at Government House at lunchtime on Friday, with David Janetzki retaining the Treasury portfolio but also taking on responsibility for Energy and Home Ownership.

As the new State Development and Infrastructure Minister, Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie will be charged with overhauling Queensland’s shambolic planning for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.

The new cabinet has been ordered to work through the weekend, and will focus on delivering Mr Crisafulli’s promises of reducing the number of crime victims, increasing home ownership, ending cost blowouts on infrastructure projects and preventing any new growth in the public surgery waitlist.

“Queenslanders have entrusted us to deliver a fresh start for Queensland, ending the crises in youth crime, health, housing and cost of living, and that is what we’ll do, with ministers starting work today,” the new Premier said.

The Speaker will be announced next week, along with new assistant ministers.