David Crisafulli assures public servants there’ll be no job cuts

Premier David Crisafulli has told the public service he will not be repeating the mistakes of the previous LNP administration.

David Crisafulli after being sworn in as premier on Monday. Picture: John Gass/NCA NewsWire

Premier David Crisafulli has told the public service he will not be repeating the mistakes of the previous LNP administration in his first official correspondence in the top job.

But Queenslanders can expect a significant leadership shake-up and an overhaul of departmental structures as the newly minted Premier and his deputy Jarrod Bleijie got to work shaping the state’s new government.

Mr Crisafulli, in his first message to the state’s more than 250,000 public servants on Monday, made clear the election scare campaign about LNP cuts to the sector was baseless.

And he also made clear the new administration would not be repeating the mistakes of its conservative predecessors.

“There will be no employment cuts to the public service workforce,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“Any views you may have heard otherwise, are completely untrue.

“Having seen the impact of job losses in the past on the productivity and morale of the public service, I will not be repeating those actions.

“It is vital we invest in the strengths and capability of the public service so it can address the future needs of this state.”

He also warned there would be some initial realignment in leadership and in machinery-of-government changes, signalling the firing and hiring of directors-general and reassembly of departments.

Mr Crisafulli and his deputy Jarrod Bleijie visited Government House on Monday to be sworn in as the heads of the new LNP government, taking between them interim ministerial roles while they shape the first cabinet.

Mr Crisafulli declined to be drawn on who would or wouldn’t be on his frontbench or what roles they would take.

The LNP will also need to appoint a new Speaker of the House.

There are seven Liberal National MPs – including Mr Crisafulli and Mr Bleijie – who have ministerial experience after serving on Campbell Newman’s frontbench between 2012 and 2015.

“You’ll see a lot of faces who you know and respect, and who’ve done a lot of work,” he said.

“The people who you have seen and who done a really good job, will be the people who you see and will be rewarded.

“That senior leadership team that’s done the job and worked really hard will continue to be that senior leadership team – Jarrod (Bleijie) and David (Janetzki), Ros (Bates) and Dale (Last).

“They come to it with different perspective, but they’ve done a really good job.”

Premier David Crisafulli (left) with deputy Jarrod Bleijie and Governor Jeannette Young. Picture: John Gass/NCA NewsWire

It is expected Mr Crisafulli and Mr Bleijie will finalise the departmental restructures and the look of the frontbench over the next two days before the ministers are sworn in as late as Friday.

“It will then give ministers the weekend to go to work ahead of a cabinet meeting next week,” he said.

There will be two parliamentary sittings weeks before Christmas though the specific dates have not been set.

And the former government’s “family friendly” hours could be a thing of the past as the LNP races to get legislation through – like its so-called “adult crime, adult time” laws – in place by Christmas.

Mr Crisafulli revealed Mr Bleijie and a small team had prior to the election put together a transition plan in the likelihood of an LNP win in a bid to be ready.

As one of Campbell Newman’s ministers, David Crisafulli saw the impact of public service cuts first-hand.

“That wasn’t anything other than making sure that we were able to give stability if we were to win, and when we did win, to be able to walk in on day one and be able to present what we believe that the structure should look like,” Mr Crisafulli said.

Mr Crisafulli has made clear his front bench would be made to leave the sanctity of 1 William St and go out and speak to public servants across the state.

“There’s always going to be governing that needs to be done at the main building, but there’s a lot of other public servants who work outside of there … and it’s important that they get to see a minister take real, genuine interest in what they’re doing,” he said.

In his message to the public service Mr Crisafulli also reiterated his focus on areas including health, community safety, housing, and affordability of Queenslanders’ lives.

“This is accompanied by the planning and preparation for Queensland being on the world stage when we host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games – an event which provides us with a unique opportunity to ensure Queensland benefits from creating legacy in areas like infrastructure transport, and tourism.”

Originally published as David Crisafulli assures public servants there’ll be no job cuts