‘Battle lines for the next election are clear’: Opposition

The Opposition has unveiled a revamped shadow cabinet, with two promotions and one LNP figure dumped.

The Opposition has finalised its cabinet as it ramps up campaigning ahead of the state election in less than 11-months, with energy spokesman Pat Weir dumped to make way for two promotions.

Among the suite of changes, LNP’s Laura Gerber has been promoted to the shadow cabinet where she will be in charge of youth justice and victim support.

Former detective sergeant Dan Purdie has also been elevated into cabinet to run the party’s police and community safety portfolio, replacing Dale Last — mirroring the specific portfolio structure that emerged following the government’s reshuffle under new Premier Steven Miles.

Mr Last will take responsibility for Mr Weir’s vacant natural resources and mines portfolio, as well as retaining fire and emergency services, corrective services and rural and regional affairs.

Deb Frecklington will assume responsibility of energy from Mr Weir, while also gaining cost of living and retaining previous portfolios water and construction of dams and regional development and manufacturing.

In unveiling the revamped cabinet, Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said the “battle lines for the next election are clear”.

“After a decade, are things better or worse when it comes to youth crime, housing, health, and cost of living?” he said.

“That’s our laser-like focus, and making our community safer is the greatest gift a government can give its residents.”

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli (centre) with the new Shadow Minister for Youth Justice and Victims Support, Laure Gerber (right) and the new Shadow Minister for Police and Community Safety Dan Purdie (left). Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

A noted point of separation between the government and opposition cabinet changes is the Premier’s removal of the Olympic and Paralympic Games as a stand-alone portfolio.

The LNP, meanwhile, will have infrastructure and jobs related to the Games and Games’ sport and regional engagement split between deputy leader Jarrod Bleijie and Tim Mander respectively.

“I don’t accept that walking away from having a point of accountability on those things is a good move,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“I want that point of accountability to be senior shadow ministers.”

The increased responsibility for the party’s most recent former leader, Ms Frecklington, and cabinet inclusions of two of her allies, appears on the surface to forgive previous tensions relating to a split in the party in the lead up to the 2020 state election.

But LNP insiders say the division in the party was greatly exaggerated with one senior source insisting Mr Crisafulli “was not vindictive”.

The view from inside the party was also that the government’s reshuffle provided a perfect opportunity to make changes.

Mr Miles’ increased size of his cabinet was also ideal for the Opposition, given Mr Purdie was viewed as next in line for promotion but Ms Gerber was also deserving of elevation.

One insider said Ms Gerber was “like our Meaghan Scanlon” — a nod to her rising credentials within the LNP in comparing her to the Miles government’s rising star Housing Minister.

Originally published as ‘Battle lines for the next election are clear’: Opposition