Just 2 ministers from outside SE corner
JUST two members of Annastacia Palaszczuk’s cabinet are based outside the southeast corner – and none from between Caboolture and Townsville.
An influential union backer has slammed the new cabinet stating it will not help Labor “rebuild its relationship with regional Queensland”, while a regional crossbench MP said the government had “no mandate” outside the southeast.
Ms Palaszczuk announced an 18-person cabinet on Monday, but only two of them, Barron River MP Craig Crawford and Mundingburra MP Coralee O’Rourke, are from outside the southeast.
Instead, five MPs from outside Brisbane have been named assistant ministers. Keppel MP Brittany Lauga, Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert and Gaven MP Keaghan Scalon will join Ipswich MP Jennifer Howard and Gladstone MP Glenn Butcher as assistant ministers.
When Ms Palaszczuk announced her first cabinet in February 2015 it included three regional MPs – Ms O’Rourke, Mulgrave MP
Curtis Pitt and Rockhampton MP Bill Byrne.
Mr Pitt will now be Speaker and Mr Byrne resigned because of health
reasons before the last election.
Influential CFMEU branch secretary Michael Ravbar said the cabinet was not up to the job to “rebuild” Labor’s reputation in regional communities.
“Whilst there are some hard working and talented members of the Premier’s new cabinet, others are simply not up for the job. Also, some of the current ministers have failed as ministers in the past but unbelievably, for some reason are still there,” he said.
“We are disappointed as should most Queenslanders be with the new Palaszczuk team that is being sworn in today. It isn’t the dynamic, visionary and hardworking team that Queensland needs and deserves.”
Also, the new agriculture minister is based in Brisbane with Ferny Grove MP Mark Furner named to the role. –