Jones to stay on as ‘Minister for Gold Coast’
LABOR’S Kate Jones, dubbed the Minister for the Gold Coast, has retained key portfolios in a shake-up by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
Ms Jones will continue as Minister for the Commonwealth Games and also in her tourism role.
But the latter post has been renamed Minister for Tourism Industry Development instead of Tourism and Major Events. The name change is to reflect Labor campaign pledges to revitalise the Great Barrier Reef and to drive more flights and cruise ships into Queensland.
Ms Palaszczuk revealed the posts yesterday, announcing a four-member economic team of the party’s senior Ministers to drive job growth across Queensland which included Ms Jones. Ms Jones will also be Minister for Innovation and Minister for International Education, which is another key area for the Gold Coast which has council-backed Study Gold Coast pushing marketing to foreign students.
Jackie Trad, who has added Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships to her title, yesterday said managing debt “responsibly” would be a focus as she is sworn in as Treasurer tomorrow.
Ms Palaszczuk, who will take on Trade, also revealed Cameron Dick will take on State Development, Infrastructure and Planning as well as Manufacturing, overseeing Economic Development Queensland and the Reconstruction Authority.
Yvette D’Ath will take on Leader of the House duties from Stirling Hinchliffe as he returns to the ministry but she will also likely remain the State’s Attorney-General while Steven Miles has been mooted for the Health portfolio.
Grace Grace will take over Education. Energy and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey is tipped to add Transport to his portfolio.