Will Hodgman has sent a clear message to Sue Hickey with his cabinet snub

The Premier’s decision to promote Lyons MP Mark Shelton over Speaker Sue Hickey to the cabinet has sent the message loud and clear that he would prefer to die on his feet than live on his knees.

BY choosing to promote Mark Shelton over Speaker Sue Hickey, Premier Will Hodgman has sent the message loud and clear that he would prefer to die on his feet than live on his knees.

His reshuffle is a decisive act designed to regain control of the agenda.

As I wrote in this column last week, Michael Ferguson has been an outstanding Health Minister but unfortunately the weight of time has taken its toll.

If a dog year equals seven human years then five years as Health Minister equals a lifetime achievement award.

HICKEY’S THREAT TO A REELING GOVERNMENT

Mr Ferguson is a talented, hard-working Minister and I’ve no doubt that he will be very effective in taking over the State’s key economic roles from Peter Gutwein and Jeremy Rockliff.

It would have been a difficult to decision to move Jeremy Rockliff from Education so I can understand why the Premier has instead taken the decision to split the Health portfolio, allowing Mr Rockliff to take charge of a critical area – mental health – while still retaining education.

That leaves Sarah Courtney, who has been handed the bulk of the health chalice, with a big job ahead of her.

FERGUSON AXED FROM HEALTH IN CABINET RESHUFFLE

As a new Minister you would expect key stakeholders and unions to take their time before forming judgements about her performance, and she would be wise to make the most of this window.

But it’s the replacement of the loyal Jacquie Petrusma, who has resigned due to ill-health, which is the Premier’s boldest play.

No doubt Mark Shelton is a deserving Minister, having been first elected in 2010 and having shown, during his brief stint as Speaker, that he is no sleepy pushover.

And the fact that he’s in the seat of Lyons, which will be key to the next election, is a nice bonus.

But by overlooking Speaker Sue Hickey for Cabinet this time around, the Premier has made it clear that a Cabinet spot for her isn’t going to be happening anytime soon – if ever.

Ms Hickey is clearly disappointed; despite her previous protestations to the contrary it is clear that she would have liked to be in the Cabinet.

WILKIE WELCOMES RESHUFFLE

Whether or not Ms Hickey remains a member of the Liberal Party is really a moot point.

She has effectively already been operating as a just right-of-centre independent, and has made a point of stating her commitment to supply and confidence, which she restated again following the reshuffle announcement.

At least now the Premier has ended the shadow-boxing and while he may lose the odd legislative battle, the executive arm of the Government can get on with governing with more clarity and certainty than has been the case for the past 18 months.

Brad Stansfield was Premier Will Hodgman’s chief of staff for eight years. He is now a Partner at Font PR, which advised the Liberal Party during the recent federal election.