MP Appointed Cherbourg ‘Champion’

July 19, 2016

Cherbourg has a new “champion” within State Cabinet.

The State Government announced on Tuesday that every Cabinet Minister had been assigned unique responsibility for a separate Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community in Queensland.

The “champion” for Cherbourg is Minister for State Development and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Dr Anthony Lynham.

Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Curtis Pitt said the Ministerial Government Champions’ Program means communities would receive a greater level of individual attention to address their particular needs.

“Each discrete community will now have its own dedicated partner within the Palaszczuk Government Ministry to listen and act on their concerns which will help communities seize opportunities before them,” Mr Pitt said.

“The Ministerial Champions program builds on the existing Queensland Government Champions program, which has partnered discrete communities with Directors-General or other heads of government agencies.

“This program will provide unprecedented contact, presence and direct attention between Ministers and communities, which will undoubtedly strengthen our whole-of-government response to improving Indigenous outcomes.

“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to closing the gap in life outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders and non-Indigenous Queenslanders, particularly those living in remote and discrete communities.

“Under the new program Ministers will immediately begin working closely with Mayors and community leaders from their partner community, to engage more effectively with Cabinet on the opportunities and challenges facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

“As part of our existing portfolio responsibilities, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and I will continue our involvement in all communities and I will personally lead the whole-of-Government response in Aurukun as announced by the Premier in May.

“We look forward to working closely with our Cabinet colleagues as they take up the vital role of championing the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders in the spirit of genuine partnerships.”

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The full list of Ministerial Government Champions:

• All Communities – Premier and Minister for the Arts Annastacia Palaszczuk; and Treasurer, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Minister for Sport Curtis Pitt

• Aurukun – Treasurer, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Minister for Sport, Curtis Pitt

• Cherbourg – Minister for State Development and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Dr Anthony Lynham

• Coen – Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services, Cameron Dick

• Doomadgee – Minister for Disability Services, Minister for Seniors and Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland, Coralee O’Rourke

• Hope Vale – Minister for Housing and Public Works, Mick de Brenni

• Kowanyama – Assistant Minister of State Assisting the Premier, Assistant Minister Mark Ryan

• Lockhart River – Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports and Minister for Energy, Biofuels and Water Supply, Mark Bailey

• Mapoon – Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services and Minister for Corrective Services, Bill Byrne

• Mornington Island – Assistant Minister for Local Government, Assistant Minister Jennifer Howard

• Mossman Gorge – Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Training and Skills, Yvette D’Ath

• Napranum – Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, Minister for Racing and Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Grace Grace

• Northern Peninsula Area – Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Leanne Donaldson

• Palm Island – Deputy Premier, Minister for Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning and Minister for Trade and Investment, Jackie Trad

• Pormpuraaw – Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection and Minister for National Parks and the Great Barrier Reef, Dr Steven Miles

• Torres Strait – Minister for Communities, Women and Youth, Minister for Child Safety and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Shannon Fentiman

• Woorabinda – Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games, Stirling Hinchliffe

• Wujal Wujal – Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy and Minister for Small Business, Leeanne Enoch

• Yarrabah – Minister for Education and Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Kate Jones

  Cherbourg