May 10, 2020
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk unveiled a new Cabinet on Sunday, with Steven Miles appointed Deputy Premier.
The reshuffle comes after former Deputy Premier Jackie Trad stood aside on Saturday – and then resigned on Sunday – her ministerial responsibilities due to a CCC investigation into allegations she interfered with the appointment of a school principal, an allegation which Ms Trad denies.
The Premier took over responsibility for the portfolios – including Treasurer – temporarily ahead of the reshuffle.
Ms Palaszczuk said Minister Miles would also retain the Health and Ambulance Services portfolio after leading Queensland through the COVID-19 crisis.
Minister Cameron Dick will take on the role of Treasurer and retain the Infrastructure and Planning portfolio.
Minister Kate Jones will assume responsibility for State Development while continuing as Tourism Minister and Innovation Minister.
Ms Jones will also retain responsibility for Queensland’s Cross River Rail project.
Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Craig Crawford will assume responsibility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships.
Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher will join the Cabinet as the Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing.
The Premier said she had moved to deliver a Cabinet focussed on COVID-19 recovery.
“Queenslanders need strong, stable government and these permanent appointments to my new Cabinet will deliver just that,” she said.
“I am 100 per cent focussed and I want my entire Cabinet to be 100 per cent on our COVID-19 recovery.
“This decisive action means we can get on with the job of creating jobs for Queenslanders.”
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Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington described the Labor Party reshuffle as “musical chairs”.
“In two days Queensland has had three Treasurers. All of this chaos and confusion is in the middle of a health and economic crisis,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Today we have had a complete upheaval of economic portfolios in an economic crisis.
“Queensland deserves better than this rabble.
“Almost 300,000 Queenslanders are out of work because of coronavirus and now we have musical chairs around the Cabinet.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk is weak and should have acted months ago and sacked Jackie Trad.”
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