New Cabinet following on from 2020 State Election

[ozbob]

I would like to see Cross River Rail Ministerial responsibility moved to Minister of Transport's  portfolio.

In an ideal world a Minister for Public and Active Transport would be the best, which would include CRR but I doubt they will do that.

What do you think?

[achiruel]

I'd like to see Brittany Lauga as Minister for Public Transport. She has a background in town planning so might actually have a slight clue as to what she's doing. Bailey can either state in charge ofr roads & ports, or take over Mines from the retired Dr Lynham. Just get him away from Public Transport IMO.

[Stillwater]

Roads are roads. Split Transport and Main Roads and place non-roads transport infrastructure with Cities and Regions Planning, put QR there as well, also TransLink.

Licences etc, maritime issues, boat ramps etc goes into a Roads and Maritime agency.

[verbatim9]

Just have enhanced Translink agency under TMR with more powers to plan projects. I think Queensland is one of the last States to have a separate Public Transport agency? I wonder if Active Transport could also fall under Translink?

[ozbob]

The state with the best model - the Public Transport Authority of WA  https://www.pta.wa.gov.au
has delivered the best results.

As TransLink gets further subordinated in DTMR, the results become more problematical.

The best outcome for Queensland would be the a separate authority as for WA - Public Transport Queensland with own Minister.
This is not going to happen, the Govt has rejected the CRU model.

DTMR is expanding its rail planning section.  I have no confidence in DTMR when it comes to rail.  Their history is littered with failure.

As far as CRR goes, it needs to be under transport.  Particularly as integration with rail and bus is being worked out.

The past two CRR Ministers,  Ms Trad, and Ms. Jones are gone .... they were ineffective in my view so no great loss.

I am very concerned that Queensland is on the edge of yet another monumental rail failure - Cross River Rail fail. 

It will be a miracle if they get the ETCS integrated with the rest of the network.  The bumblers of past failures are still there bumbling ...

[ozbob]

What do you think about Mr Bailey continuing in the Transport and Main Roads portfolio?

There are advantages with continuity of knowledge etc. if he is reappointed. 

But there is also the counter argument for new blood, even if the new Minister (she or he) has to go through a steep learning curve.

My feeling is that with so much happening with COVID-19 impacts and the like, it might be best for Mr Bailey to continue with CRR added to the transport portfolio.

I expect not everyone here would agree with that premise and that's OK.

[ozbob]

I am hearing from inter-galactic sources that the make up of the new cabinet might be revealed today.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Qld election 2020: Labor's Old Guard may lose Cabinet spot

Labor's smallest faction is facing the loss of a critical Cabinet position as the Left and Right battle to boost their numbers following last week's election.

The Sunday Mail understands the Old Guard faction could lose one of its three Cabinet posts after its overall representation in the Caucus dropped.

Labor's three factions – Left, Right and Old Guard – receive Cabinet positions relative to their total numbers within Caucus.

About half of the Labor MPs are aligned to the Left, which controls nine Cabinet posts, with Ms Palaszczuk's Right faction taking six and the Old Guard three.

Jockeying over the factional make-up has intensified in recent days as results in a few close races have become clearer and Labor heavyweights have started negotiating over Cabinet positions.

One MP said the battle for Cabinet posts was getting nasty, but the process was always vicious.

The final make-up of Caucus is still unclear, with Labor on track to win 50 to 52 seats depending on results in a few remaining tight races.

But two candidates set to flip seats for Labor – Adrian Tantari (Hervey Bay) and Robert Skelton (Nicklin) – are being eyed by both major factions as they were both unaligned at preselection.

Securing the support of both would be a major boost for either, with the Right understood to be pressing hardest to woo them.

The Sunday Mail has been told Member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders, who walked out of the Left last year, has also been courted by the Right.

Mr Saunders said he was unaligned and planned to remain that way.

"I am just a big support of the Premier," he said.

MPs from the Left and Right factions have noted that Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's first regional trip after winning the election was to visit Mr Tantari in Hervey Bay and Mr Saunders in Maryborough.

MPs and factional powerbrokers believe the most likely scenario is for the Old Guard to lose one Cabinet position to the Right, seating another ally around the Cabinet table for Ms Palaszczuk.

Education Minister Grace Grace and Child Safety, Youth and Women Minister Di Farmer as well as Speaker Curtis Pitt are from the Old Guard.

Retired Tourism Minister Kate Jones was also a member of the Old Guard, as is Leanne Linard, who has been mentioned as likely to be elevated to the ministry.

[ozbob]

Noted Minister Bailey was commenting again in this article published today as Transport Minister.

Couriermail --> Coronavirus Qld: Speeding fines down $34m due to lockdown

State government coffers are short $34 million compared with last year due to this side effect of the coronavirus pandemic. And the minister responsible couldn't be happier.

State government coffers are facing a $34 million slump, after fewer motorists were slapped with speeding fines in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis.

The Sunday Mail can reveal a massive $221.2 million worth of speeding fines were dished out on Queensland roads in 2019-20 – the equivalent of about $600,000 a day.

But the figure is a sharp 13.4 per cent fall from the previous financial year, when over $255 million worth of fines were given out.

A total of 919,020 speeding infringement notices were issued in Queensland in 2019-20, at an average rate of about 1.7 fines every minute of every day.

The biggest fall in fines was during the locked down month of April, when there were only about 39,437 fines given out – down from the roughly 92,000 during the same time the previous year.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said any reduction was heartening because it meant fewer crashes and fatalities.

"But there is still way too much speeding, so until we get it down to zero, I won't be satisfied," he said.

"Speeding (is responsible for) 25 per cent of our fatalities a year in Queensland."

Mr Bailey said he hoped speeding fine revenue did not increase, as he warned that more cameras would be rolled out next year targeting mobile phone and seatbelt law compliance.

"If people stick to the road rules, no one's going to get a fine," the Minister said.

"That's the simple truth of it."

Despite the total number of speeding fines decreasing in 2019-20, the number of fines issued to motorists busted driving at more than 40km/h over the speed limit increased by about 5.4 per cent to 3518.

There was also a slight increase in the number of drivers caught speeding between 31 and 40km/h over the speed limit last financial year, with a total of 8013 fines issued.

The bulk of the fines given out in 2019-20 were for motorists nabbed speeding at up to 12km/h over, with about 630,000 fine notices issued.

A Department of Transport and Main Roads spokesman said speed limits were set and enforced to reduce crashes and save lives.

"It is defined as driving over the posted speed limit or at a speed that is inappropriate for the driving conditions," he said.

Does this signal Mr Bailey will remain as Minister for Transport?

[achiruel]

Noted Minister Bailey was commenting again in this article published today as Transport Minister.

Does this signal Mr Bailey will remain as Minister for Transport?

Not necessarily, this would be standard practice (when the same party is continuing in government) until a new Cabinet is sworn in.

[ozbob]

Noted Minister Bailey was commenting again in this article published today as Transport Minister.

Does this signal Mr Bailey will remain as Minister for Transport?

Not necessarily, this would be standard practice (when the same party is continuing in government) until a new Cabinet is sworn in.

It is of interest to me because prior to this example Minister Bailey was saying could not comment because still in caretaker period.  Election has not been formally declared yet.

[achiruel]

^ I expect that's just him finding ways to avoid commenting on things he'd rather not comment on.

[ozbob]

Couriermail is reporting that the Labor Caucus is to meet today to endorse the new cabinet.

So we may find out later today the Cabinet makeup.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1325873687967399938

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1325874883172077568

[ozbob]

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/91011

New look cabinet gets to work

Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

10th November 2020

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has appointed three new members of cabinet.

They are Member for Townsville Scott Stewart, Member for Nudgee Leanne Linard and Member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon.

They replace three ministers who retired at the election on October 31st.

The Premier said the new ministers will join their cabinet colleagues to hit the ground running.

"Having managed the health risks of COVID we are able to concentrate on our economic recovery," the Premier said.

"The new ministry will immediately get back to work implementing Queensland's Economic Recovery Plan."

Ms Palaszczuk also announced that Deputy Premier Steven Miles would become Minister for State Development, Local Government, Infrastructure and Planning.

Treasurer Cameron Dick adds Investment to his portfolio.

Yvette D'Ath will become the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services.

The full cabinet portfolios will be revealed ahead of a swearing-in ceremony later this week.

Parliament will resume in the final week of November followed by budget sittings in December.

Budget Estimates hearings will be conducted prior to Christmas.

ENDS

====

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/10NewsFirstQLD/status/1326049274069721091

[ozbob]

Minister " Somebody Else "  has been awarded the poisoned chalice!

[ozbob]

Well at least CRR is out of State Development, which can only be a good move IMHO.

Hopefully it is back with transport.

Can hardly wait ...   

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Annastacia Palaszczuk unveils three new MPs, including youngest in state's history, in Cabinet reshuffle

Annastacia Palaszczuk has unveiled her new look Cabinet, with three new MPs joining the frontbench, but some still don't know what roles they will fill. The Premier assures us, she has it "all in her head".

Ministers are being kept in the dark about their new jobs as Annastacia Palaszczuk unveiled a new look Cabinet, including the youngest frontbencher in Queensland's history.

In what is slated to be a major reshuffle, the Premier revealed that her deputy Steven Miles will be leaving the health portfolio to head up State Development as the government turns its attention to the post-COVID economic recovery.

Yvette D'Ath, previously attorney-general, will be appointed Health Minister, while Treasurer Cameron Dick will also take up the investment portfolio ahead of delivering his first Budget next month.

There will be three new additions to Cabinet to replace ministers who bowed out at the election, including Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon, 27, who will be the youngest frontbencher in the state's history.

Townsville MP Scott Stewart and Nudgee MP Leanne Linard will also join the new line up, but none of them knew yesterday what their portfolios were.

All three MPs come from each faction of the party, with Ms Scanlon hailing from the Left, Mr Stewart from the Right and Ms Linard joining from the Old Guard.

Ms Palaszczuk yesterday insisted all of the Cabinet appointments were her decisions as she foreshadowed a significant reshuffle.

The Premier acknowledged that Mr Miles was "torn" about leaving the health portfolio, but said she needed "as many hands possible" to work on the economic recovery.

"I think we always have to be on our guard, but from all accounts our efforts in health has been world class," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"But now we've got people out of work, our economy needs to recover and we need to make sure that we have all hands on deck.

"I firmly believe that I have put the right people into the right positions to take on this mammoth job that we have to deliver for the people of this state."

Ms Palaszczuk said she had it "all in my head" where each Minister will sit in the Cabinet, promising to speak to other frontbenchers today before publicly unveiling their portfolios.

Some yesterday still did not know what roles they would hold.

All of the existing Ministers will stay in the Cabinet, with the new ministry expected to be sworn in on Thursday.

Mr Miles said he got a "bit teary" when he told to Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young that he was moving to a new portfolio, which will also include Local Government, Infrastructure and Planning.

Ms Scanlon yesterday said almost 40 per cent of Queenslanders were under the age of 30.

"It's a great privilege to be the youngest Cabinet Minister in Queensland's history," the Gold Coast-based MP said.

"I will make sure that I continue to advocate for not only my generation, but generations to come."

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1326250693703823361

[ozbob]

" ...  Grace Grace has been tipped as the person who might be put in charge of Cross River Rail ... "

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/steven-miles-chokes-back-tears-as-he-leaves-health-portfolio-20201110-p56dbt.html

... Grace was born in Brisbane, Queensland, the daughter of an Italian migrant cane cutter. She was an industrial relations advisor to the Keating Government until 1995 when she was elected as assistant general secretary, and in 2000 the first female general secretary, of the Queensland Council of Unions. ...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Grace

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1326411212377251842

====

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/91013

[ozbob]

" ... The Cross River Rail portfolio has been abolished under the reshuffle but will likely fall under Mr Miles' responsibility. ... "

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/queensland-s-cabinet-line-up-revealed-after-premier-s-trip-to-government-house-20201111-p56dnh.html

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1326414183165022208

[ozbob]

Had a report from a correspondent that Mr Bailey will be looking after Cross River Rail.

If confirmed, I think this is the best outcome we can expect from the line up.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/MarkBaileyMP/status/1326431983078006786

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

12th November 2020

RAIL Back On Track Welcomes the re-appointment of Minister for Transport

Good Morning,

RAIL Back On Track congratulates Minister Bailey on his re-appointment to the Transport Portfolio.  There is value in stability at this time.

We strongly support the previous separate Ministerial responsibility for Cross River Rail being brought back to the Transport.

This makes a lot of sense in terms of improving project outcomes and particularly moves for integration with the existing rail and bus network. A Transport project belongs in Transport!

We look forward to continue to work with Minister Bailey for constructive improvements in our public and active transport.

Additionally we hope that some details on how Cross River Rail will integrate and operate with the existing rail network in SEQ will be forthcoming.  Up to now, this information is being hidden.

Best wishes,

Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1326539107560873985

[ozbob]

Facebook ...

[ozbob]

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/91016

12th November 2020

Assistant Ministers to further boost Queensland's economic recovery

Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

Assistant Ministers will strengthen Queensland's ongoing recovery and growth following the COVID-19 pandemic, with a particular focus on the Palaszczuk Government's fresh priorities for the next term.

COVID Economic Recovery, Health Infrastructure, Hydrogen, Renewable Energy and local Train Manufacturing are among the important areas of focus for the assistant ministry.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the appointments will also recognise the vital role of Queensland's regions.

"Assistant Ministers come from regions stretching from the Far North to Ipswich," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"They will work with my new Ministers to ensure that every aspect of Government endeavour is comprehensively addressed, especially our health and economic response to COVID.

"Bart Mellish will be my Assistant Minister, with COVID Economic Recovery among his responsibilities, while Charis Mullen will be Assistant Minister for Treasury and Julieanne Gilbert will focus on Health Infrastructure.

"Regional issues will be front of mind for Nikki Boyd as Assistant Minister for Local Government.

"As key areas of Queensland's future growth, the Education and Tourism portfolios will be assisted by Brittany Lauga and Michael Healy.

"The appointment of Bruce Saunders as Assistant Minister for Train Manufacturing reflects our election commitment to bring local train building back to Maryborough.

"And Lance McCallum will help ensure that our increasing focus on Hydrogen as a fuel of the future gets the backing it needs as we work towards 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030."

ASSISTANT MINISTERS

PORTFOLIO AREAS

Bart Mellish, Member for Aspley

Assistant Minister to the Premier for Veterans' Affairs, Trade and COVID Economic Recovery

====

Nikki Boyd, Member for Pine Rivers

Assistant Minister for Local Government

====

Charis Mullen, Member for Jordan

Assistant Minister for Treasury Assistant

====

Brittany Lauga, Member for Keppel 

Assistant Minister for Education

====

Julieanne Gilbert, Member for Mackay

Minister for Health Infrastructure

====

Bruce Saunders, Member for Maryborough

Assistant Minister for Train Manufacturing and Regional Roads

====

Lance McCallum, Member for Bundamba

Assistant Minister for Hydrogen Development and the 50% Renewable Energy Target by 2030

====

Michael Healy, Member for Cairns

Assistant Minister for Tourism Industry Development

ENDS

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/MarkBaileyMP/status/1326730936210264065

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Premier defends growing team as cabinet members sworn in

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has pointed to the daunting job of pulling Queensland out of the coronavirus pandemic to justify an increase in the size of her cabinet.

With a sunny sky above and social distancing in place, Governor Paul de Jersey swore in the 18 members of Ms Palaszczuk's third-term Labor cabinet on Thursday morning, before a more subdued ceremony for its eight assistant ministers.

While retaining the same number of cabinet positions after a post-election reshuffle, the assistant ministries - which come with an $84,000 pay boost - jumped from five during the past term of government.

Should recounts in Bundaberg and Nicklin deliver the tightly contested seats as called to Labor, half the members of the party caucus would be a minister or assistant minister.

"I've increased the number of assistant ministers because I've got a big job to do in the COVID recovery and also making sure that the regions are well represented," Ms Palaszczuk told reporters after the formalities and obligatory photo opportunity on the steps of Government House.

In a room of about 20 - including Ms Palaszczuk's parents, Deputy Premier Steven Miles, Treasurer Cameron Dick, along with other family and staff - new and returning ministers had earlier walked in one-by-one with their own groups of supporters to sign their oath of office.

As others began to gather on the grass outside with teacups and glasses clinking, the assistant ministers were also welcomed.

With Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon elevated to cabinet as the state's youngest minister, her Cairns colleague Michael Healy will take over as Assistant Minister for Tourism Industry Development.

Ipswich MP Jennifer Howard will also leave the cabinet, with Aspley MP Bart Mellish to serve as Assistant Minister to the Premier for Veteran's Affairs, Trade and COVID Economic Recovery.

Pine Rivers MP Nikki Boyd will swap the assistant health portfolio for a new Local Government position. The renamed Health Infrastructure assistant ministry will be held by Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert.

Ms Gilbert's former treasury responsibility will go to Jordan MP Charis Mullen. Keppel MP Brittany Lauga will stay on as Assistant Minister for Education.

Bundamba MP Lance McCallum will pick up another of the new positions as Assistant Minister for Hydrogen Development and the 50% Renewable Energy Target by 2030.

The third new position will go to Maryborough MP Bruce Saunders, now Assistant Minister for Train Manufacturing and Regional Roads.

"This is a big signal as well to regional Queensland that we are here and we'll be looking after you every step of the way," Ms Palaszczuk said.

Though larger than her previous extended cabinet, it remains smaller than that of the first Newman government team which featured 19 ministers and 11 assistant ministers.

Ms Palaszczuk took a pledge to trim numbers to the post-2015 election cabinet, which saw only 14 ministers and one assistant ministed sworn in after the Labor victory.

Asked if she feared or welcomed news of new LNP leader David Crisafulli, voted in by his party room on Thursday, Ms Palaszczuk was dismissive: "Not really, they can put up whoever they want, I don't really care."

"There has been Campbell Newman, Lawrence Springborg, Tim Nicholls, Deb Frecklington — that's a matter for them."

Curtis Pitt is intended to return as Speaker, though this would be endorsed at the next caucus meeting. The new cabinet will meet for the first time on Monday.

[ozbob]

LNP Shadow Ministry

https://www.lnp.org.au/our-team/state-team/shadow-cabinet/

[has not been updated as of 04:44 am 16th November 2020)

however Steve Minnikin MP is continuing in Transport.