Health Minister Michael Ferguson loses portfolio in Tasmanian Cabinet reshuffle

Health Minister Michael Ferguson has lost his portfolio in a major shake up of Cabinet announced by Premier Will Hodgman. WATCH THE VIDEO.

HEALTH Minister Michael Ferguson has been stripped of his major portfolios in a surprise reshuffle of the Tasmanian Cabinet.

Mr Ferguson — who has in recent months survived multiple no-confidence motions in state parliament — has been replaced by fellow member for Bass Sarah Courtney.

Lyons MP Mark Shelton was elevated to the cabinet, taking Mr Ferguson’s Police Fire and Emergency Management portfolio as well as responsibility for Local Government.

Minister for Human Services and Women Jacquie Petrusma is stepping down from her roles due to ill health.

Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff has added the new role of Mental Health and Wellbeing to his responsibilities and Treasurer Peter Gutwein has picked up the Environment, Parks and Heritage from the Premier.

Mr Ferguson will take on responsibility for Infrastructure and Transport; State Growth; Small Business; Science and Technology.

HICKEY’S THREAT TO REELING GOVERNMENT

Mr Hodgman paid tribute to Mr Ferguson’s work in the health portfolio over the past five years.

“He has done an exceptional job. For somebody to hold the position of Minister for Health for well over five years is a testament to his durability, his commitment, to my support in him. “But I do believe and we agree as a group that there is always the need for change and renewal and that time is now.

“No one for a minute should think that what we are doing should be seen as some silver bullet to address significant challenges in health care and community services, in building the infrastructure program that is unprecedented in its scale.

Minister Jacquie Petrusma announcing she is leaving her ministerial portfolios due to ill health alongside Premier Will Hodgman. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“But what this does now do is provide a refreshing of the government and its team and a renewed focus in areas of priority for us that we’ll deliver.”

Ms Petrusma said she was sad to be stepping down from her roles but she was putting her health first.

She said she needed further treatment to deal with complications arising from a cochlear implant.

“Unfortunately my body’s been rejecting the graft and I had been battling a recurring infection at the site to the extent where there’s a hole in the graft so the graft does need replacing,” she said.

“To replace the graft. I have to be free of all infection because they can’t seal up the infection inside my brain with a new graft until I’m totally over it.

“So I do need to just step back so I can get over the infection so that I can have the graft replaced and then go on to enjoy all the benefits that a cochlear implant offers.”

EARLIER: Health Minister Michael Ferguson has lost his portfolio in a major shake up of Cabinet announced by Premier Will Hodgman.

Sarah Courtney will pick up the trouble-plagued ministry in a reshuffle which has seen Jacquie Petrusma exit Cabinet for health reasons and a big promotion for Mark Shelton.

Mr Ferguson will remain in Cabinet picking up the Infrastructure and Transport portfolio as well as State Growth, Small Business and Science and Technology.

Mr Shelton will become the Minister for Police Fire and emergency Management and the Local Government minister.

More to come …