Cabinet reshuffle - articles and discussion

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times click here!

Nolan ready for change

Nolan ready for change

Zane Jackson | 19th February 2011

IPSWICH MP Rachel Nolan could gain a new portfolio or lose her Transport Minister role after Premier Anna Bligh promised a "serious shake-up" of her cabinet.

The Premier yesterday said she would announce her rejigged team before Monday after three Ministers resigned from their positions this week.

Another three backbenchers have been promoted in their place but Ms Bligh said all current cabinet positions could be changed.

There has been speculation the move is a clearing of the decks before a possible 2011 election, but Ms Nolan said she is expecting a 2012 election.

When asked if she would still be Transport Minister come Monday, Ms Nolan said it was a decision for the Premier to make.

She said she was happy in the portfolio but would be happy to work wherever Ms Bligh saw fit.

"There has to be ongoing change. Being in government is hard, we have to be constantly reassessing and bringing in people with new energy," she said.

"All of it is in the Premier's hands. The Premier has said the election will be next year, and that's my expectation."

The Labor caucus met yesterday elevate Yeerongpilly MP Simon Finn, Whitsunday MP Jan Jarratt and Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt to the ministry to replace the outgoing Ministers.

Mr Schwarten and Ms Boyle will not recontest the next election, due in early 2012, while Mr Lawlor quit to concentrate on retaining his traditionally conservative Gold Coast seat of Southport.

Ms Bligh said she would not even guarantee Health Minister Paul Lucas would retain his deputy position in the change up.

"By the swearing in on Monday I think you'll see a very significant number of changes," she said.

[ozbob]

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh
18/02/2011

TRANSCRIPT - PRESS CONFERENCE - 18 FEB FRIDAY

E & O E - PROOF ONLY

TRANSCRIPT

PRESS CONFERENCE

18 FEBRUARY 2011

INTV: PREMIER ANNA BLIGH; SIMON FINN, MEMBER FOR YEERONGPILLY; CURTIS PITT, MEMBER FOR MULGRAVE; JAN JARRATT, MEMBER FOR WHITSUNDAY

PREMIER ANNA BLIGH: With the decision by three of my ministers to stand aside from the Cabinet and make way for new blood, the Government is in a position to reshape ourselves for the task of rebuilding Queensland. I am delighted to welcome three new members to the Queensland Cabinet. These are three members who bring with them experience, as well as a great deal of energy for the task. Two of the new ministers, Jan Jarratt from the Whitsundays and Curtis Pitt from Far North Queensland in the electorate of Mulgrave, of course will bring the powerful voice of regional Queensland that's needed as we go through the recovery. Simon Finn, who is in the electorate bordering mine at Yeerongpilly, will certainly experience, has certainly experienced some of the worst flooding in Brisbane and will also be bringing a strong voice for the reconstruction effort.

As the Government moves to address the single biggest challenge that any Queensland government has faced in a generation, to overcome the worst impacts of the worst natural disasters that we've ever seen, we need to make sure that we have energised, that we are reinvigorated, and that's what this decision gives us the chance to put in place. I look forward to working with the new Cabinet and I look forward to working with the new ministers. In addition to welcoming three new ministers, it's my intention to look across all of the portfolios of Government and to reshape the Government to ensure that we have the best people in the right portfolios as we go forward in facing some of our biggest challenges this year.

JOURNALIST: Why has the Gold Coast not got a voice in your Cabinet?

PREMIER: With the resignation of the ministers yesterday, there are some parts of Queensland that will not have a minister, including Rockhampton and the Gold Coast. That does not mean that these places will be forgotten by my Government. The Gold Coast is my home town. It is the town that I grew up in and it is always close to the top of my radar. That's why we're building the largest hospital in the southern hemisphere in our highest growth city of the Gold Coast. It's why we're building a new public transport system, it's why we're building a new stadium.

JOURNALIST: Could you not find an MP that was viable for your Cabinet down the Gold Coast?

PREMIER: We have a number of people on the Gold Coast who are great champions for the Gold Coast, and people like Peta-Kaye Croft, who is doing a great job as parliamentary secretary. I spoke with Peta-Kaye about the opportunities in the Cabinet and I think people would understand that Peta-Kaye right now has a newborn baby and for her this is not the right time to put herself forward for the Cabinet. She's doing an extraordinary job looking after her electorate, as a Parliamentary Secretary for Education and looking after a very young family. For her this is not the right time, but that doesn't mean it won't be, and I think people will understand that these things come with certain timings and certain circumstances. I've got a lot of talent on the Gold Coast. These are great champions for the Gold Coast and I know they're going to continue to be.

JOURNALIST: So you offered her a position on the Cabinet?

PREMIER: I spoke with Peta-Kaye Croft about whether she would be in a position to consider the Cabinet and it was her view, and I think she's made the right decision for herself, her electorate and her family that now is not the right time for her.

JOURNALIST: Premier, you're going to reshape your Cabinet. Paul Lucas in Health, Stephen Robertson, um, did they look for possible changes to their role?

PREMIER: Over the last two days I've gone through the process of accepting resignations from some very long serving ministers and gone through the process of putting together new ministers into those positions. Over the next 48 hours, I'll be working hard to reshape the Government, to look across all portfolios and all ministers, and by the swearing-in on Monday I think you'll see a very significant number of changes.

JOURNALIST: Mr Langbroek wants Mr Lucas to go and Mr Fraser to go. Do you take any notice of that?

PREMIER: I'll be looking to put the best people in the right portfolios to ensure firstly that we are well placed to reconstruct Queensland and overcome the devastation of the recent disasters, and secondly that we are making sure that our big agendas in education, health, transport keep moving while the reconstruction happens.

JOURNALIST: So Paul Lucas may not be Health Minister come Monday.

PREMIER: I don't intend to speculate at this stage about any portfolios other than to say this is an opportunity for a shake-up. A shake-up is needed and that's what you're going to see.

JOURNALIST: Is this an election year.

JOURNALIST: Will he be deputy by Monday?

PREMIER: I don't intend.you can keep speculating and asking questions. I don't intend to speculate.

JOURNALIST: (Inaudible)

JOURNALIST: Premier, there'll be no more resignations though? Is this it?

PREMIER: That's my understanding.

JOURNALIST: What are your plans for the tourism portfolio?

PREMIER: Tourism is one of the most important industries in Queensland. It's one of our largest employers and it's been hit exceptionally hard by the recent devastation. This will be one of the important portfolios that I think carefully about before allocating to anybody.

JOURNALIST: Is it going to North Queensland?

PREMIER: I don't intend.

JOURNALIST: (Inaudible)

PREMIER: I don't intend to speculate. I know that's what you want me to do, but it ain't going to happen.

JOURNALIST: Did you pick these three or did you have them thrust upon you by the factions (inaudible)

PREMIER: These three ministers. Sorry. These three, they're not ministers yet. The three people who I'll be putting forward to the Governor as ministers in the new Cabinet are my choice as the best people to lead us as part of a team over the next 12 months. I asked the Caucus to endorse these nominees because I think it's important that new ministers do have the support of their Caucus and that was the endorsement that we received.

JOURNALIST: Premier is this year.

JOURNALIST: (Inaudible) the support of their factions.

JOURNALIST: Is this year not an election year?

PREMIER: 2011 is not an election year, it's a rebuilding year. I know that with a change to the face of the Government, there'll be a lot of speculation. Can I just say this is about putting the best team together to rebuild Queensland after significant devastation. That's what I think Queensland wants to see and that's what I'm going to deliver.

JOURNALIST: What about Murray Watt (inaudible)

PREMIER: I am blessed with a lot of talent on the backbench, and it can't all be accommodated in one round. I'm equally blessed with people who have a lot to offer but for whom right now they have very young babies and they have indicated to me that now is not the time to put themselves forward. These things are always a matter of opportunity, timing, and the right people, in the right portfolio.

JOURNALIST: Are any ministerial.ah, ministers, you know, guaranteed a, ah, to stay in their portfolio?

PREMIER: No.

JOURNALIST: So you could have all the ministers (inaudible)

PREMIER: Well, potentially. But this is an opportunity for a serious shake-up, a serious reshaping and I'm going to take that opportunity. So you can expect to see a number of changes, and I think it's important that we look in the face of everything that's happened in the last eight weeks and say who are the best people in the right places to make sure we're equipped for the job of 2011.

JOURNALIST: Have there been some portfolios that are underperforming?

PREMIER: No, that's not the point. The point is we've been thrown a challenge in the last eight weeks that didn't exist last year. We've had the worst disasters Queensland's ever faced. We need to rebuild and reconstruct and recover. So we need to look at where the people are in each portfolio, which ones we need to move to make sure we've got the right team in the right place for what will be a big challenge.

JOURNALIST: You've said a couple of.

JOURNALIST: When are you announcing?

PREMIER: Before Monday.

JOURNALIST: You've said a couple of times now that recovery is the biggest issue that Queensland has faced ever. Do you think that's somewhat hyperbole considering, you know, the global financial crisis, wars, those kinds of things that happened in the past?

PREMIER: Well, I did say in a generation and it's more than a generation since we've had a major war. But I do think that it is in some places.

JOURNALIST: (Inaudible)

PREMIER: Well, they're certainly I think the worst natural disasters on record and I certainly don't remember a time anywhere in Australia where we've had not one major disaster but a series of them affect such a large part of any one state of Australia, and that's the circumstance Queensland's in right now.

JOURNALIST: (Inaudible) that will cover the cost. Beyond that the Government is going to hand it over to the authority (inaudible)

PREMIER: The challenge of reconstructing Queensland is an enormous challenge, but it's not a challenge that's beyond us. It's one that we are up to but we need to make sure we've got the right team. Not only for the rebuilding task, but to make sure we're moving ahead on the important agendas for Queenslanders - better schools, better health, better transport. And I don't want any of these agendas to slip away because of people being too occupied with reconstruction. I don't want reconstruction to suffer because of people being caught up in those areas. So it's about getting the right team for the job and that's the chance we've got and we're not going to miss it.

JOURNALIST: Will you be revamping some of the portfolios?

JOURNALIST: (Inaudible)

JOURNALIST: Would be revamping some of the portfolios themselves?

PREMIER: Yes. But you don't necessarily assume that they'll be the same portfolio.

JOURNALIST: Simon, what would you like to do in the ministry?

SIMON FINN: Patrick, I'm delighted to serve in a Cabinet that's led by Premier Bligh and I'd be happy to serve in any portfolio I'm given.

JOURNALIST: Your particular field of expertise though, what would you.

FINN: Every portfolio in the Bligh Labor Government is an important portfolio, and I'd be happy to serve in any portfolio that the Premier chooses to give me.

JOURNALIST: Did you always have an ambition to be a minister?

FINN: I think that everybody who serves a local community in the Queensland Parliament hopes at some stage that they get an opportunity to represent their community at the Cabinet table and I'm delighted with the opportunity to do that.

JOURNALIST: You had a bit of union backing, too, to get the lift up.

FINN: I think the most important support that I received has been the support of my colleagues.

JOURNALIST: Mr Pitt, how, how, how are you feeling.

JOURNALIST: (Inaudible) you're happy to serve in whatever the Premier gives you as well?

JOURNALIST: How are you feeling about it?

CURTIS PITT: Oh, I'm honoured to be given an opportunity such as this. It's very humbling and there's a big task ahead of us as a government and I'm very thrilled that I can play a big part in that.

JOURNALIST: Getting some tips off your dad?

PITT: I get lots of tips from my father, but at the end of the day, we run our own race.

JOURNALIST: What did he say when you told him about this?

PITT: He was delighted.

JOURNALIST: It's a meteoric rise, isn't it, for a fresh new MP in the Cabinet?

PITT: I don't know if it's meteoric but I believe that we all came into this place to work hard and serve our community and this gives me an opportunity to do this here. I've always put my hand up for anything that you know, has been, is an opportunity for me to do that.

JOURNALIST: But it's a pretty fast rise (inaudible)

PITT: Oh, I've got a career in public service and I think I have a good understanding of how government works.

JOURNALIST: At this rate, you might be premier.

JOURNALIST: (Inaudible) areas suffering big time in tourism. What will it mean at ministerial representation then?

JAN JARRATT: Look, I'm really, delighted to come on to the Premier's team, particularly as we are facing such an important time ahead in the reconstruction. And of course the regional area that I've represented for 10 years now is suffering as the result of the economic downturn. So I'm just pleased to be part of the team that's going to address those issues.

JOURNALIST: Tourism would be a natural fit for you, though, wouldn't it?

JARRATT: The Premier will let us know in the fullness of time and I'd be delighted with whatever I get, because all of these jobs are important. There are many issues in regions right across Queensland.

JOURNALIST: But it would be a natural fit, wouldn't it?

JARRATT: Look, I'd be delighted with whatever the Premier decides for me and I will work hard in whatever portfolio that might be.

JOURNALIST: So you don't know already and just keeping it till Sunday?

JARRATT: The Premier has suggested.

JOURNALIST: Sunday Mail.

JARRATT: .she will be announcing it sometime over the weekend I believe.

JOURNALIST: Sunday Mail.

JOURNALIST: Sunday Mail (inaudible)

PREMIER: No decisions have been made and so none of these ministers have any idea what portfolio that they'll be serving in because frankly this is, this has to be thought through carefully. There are a number of options and I want to make sure I get it right because once you put this in place, this is the team that will take us through those portfolios for the next 12 months.

JOURNALIST: Has anyone put their hand up for Health?

PREMIER: I don't intend to speculate about portfolios.

JOURNALIST: That's a no, then.

PREMIER: Okay (inaudible)

JOURNALIST: Just to put it right on the record, there's no guarantees for any minister that they'll be in the same portfolios come Monday.

PREMIER: That's right.

JOURNALIST: And you might have already.

PREMIER: Except me.

JOURNALIST: Oh, are you going to keep Arts?

PREMIER: I don't intend to speculate

JOURNALIST: Sorry, did you already answer this, you could even change the names of some portfolios?

PREMIER: Yes.

JOURNALIST: Yes.

PREMIER: And responsibilities.

JOURNALIST: Would you be thinking about putting road, ah, Transport and Main Roads back together, that sort of changes or.

PREMIER: I don't intend to go any further into this.

JOURNALIST: Renaming portfolios like Climate Change and Sustainability and.

PREMIER: Thank you

[ozbob]

Courier Mail --> Anna Bligh anounces three new faces for Cabinet

[mufreight]

Needs at least five other Cabinet Members to go, Lucas, Hinchcliffe, Nolan, Fraser and Bligh, THAT MIGHT solve a few of the problems relating to Public Transport.

[ozbob]

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh
20/02/2011

PREMIER ANNOUNCES NEW PORTFOLIOS FOR SENIOR MINISTERS

Premier Anna Bligh has announced new roles for four of her Ministers ahead of the official Cabinet swearing in ceremony tomorrow.

The Premier said she had asked senior Ministers to take on bigger roles in the new Cabinet to support her as Reconstruction Minister, and ensure the Government continues to deliver services like health and education that are important to people.

"I have called on my most senior Ministers to step up, as our Government and our State step up to the challenge of rebuilding after a summer of unprecedented natural disasters," she said.

"I have asked Deputy Premier Paul Lucas to become Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State.

"As Special Minister of State, he will deal with emerging matters that otherwise would have come to me as Premier, while also having specific responsibility for local government and planning in Australia's fastest growing state.

"His relationships with mayors across the State, strengthened further during the recent disasters, will be invaluable as we work together to rebuild Queensland.

Ms Bligh said Andrew Fraser would stay on as Treasurer in addition to becoming Minister for State Development and Trade.

"This means consolidating the State's budget, its economic development including major infrastructure projects and new industries like LNG and aviation, as well as its trade relations to power Queensland's economy as it rebuilds.

It also means the State's Coordinator-General will report to Mr Fraser.

Ms Bligh said Geoff Wilson will be the new Health Minister in her re-shaped Cabinet.

"As a senior Minister, Geoff will bring a wealth of experience to the portfolio that is so vital to people," Ms Bligh said.

Mr Wilson said it was a very exciting time to become Health Minister in light of national reforms.

"These national reforms are the largest ever undertaken in our health system and I am very much looking forward to delivering on better health services for patients," Mr Wilson said.

Cameron Dick, who has been Attorney-General will take over from Geoff Wilson in Education and retain his role as Minister for Industrial Relations.

Ms Bligh is continuing to shape the new Cabinet, ahead of Monday's swearing in.

Ends.


Portfolio Responsibilities

Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State.
Includes: Attorney-General, Local Government and Planning, Fair Trading, Liquor Licencing and Gaming regulation.

Treasurer and Minister for State Development and Trade
Includes: Treasury, major infrastructure projects, Coordinator-General, new industries e.g. LNG, aviation and biotechnology, Innovation and Trade.

Education and Industrial Relations
Includes: Schools and Higher Education but not Training and TAFE. Industrial Relations includes Workcover and Workplace Health and Safety.

[Stillwater]

This is a demotion for Stirling Hinchliffe, the Minister for Infrastructure and Planning.  It also means the beancounters have greater control over the provision of major infrastructure in Queensland.

[ozbob]

New Transport Minister is the Member for Inala.

More later ...

[ozbob]

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh
20/02/2011

NEW PORTFOLIOS FOR NOLAN AND PALASZCZUK

Premier Anna Bligh today announced new portfolios for Ministers Nolan and Palaszczuk, as she reshapes her Cabinet.

The Premier said she had asked Rachel Nolan to take on the Finance and Arts portfolios.

"As Finance Minister, Rachel will take responsibility for Government Owned Corporations, Queensland Investment Corporation and Queensland Competition Authority, as well as Regulatory Reform and Insurance.

"The creation of the Finance portfolio means the Treasurer will be able to focus on consolidating the State's budget, and its economic and trade relations to drive Queensland's economy as we rebuild.

"Rachel is a good fit for the portfolio given her previous experience working for a former Queensland Treasurer.

"We have an enormous task ahead of us to rebuild Queensland and as Reconstruction Minister my focus is going to be on the challenge of rebuilding the State after a summer of devastation.

"That's why I have also asked Rachel to take on the Arts portfolio.

"The Arts is one of my great loves and I relinquish this responsibility with a great deal of regret, however the recovery process is going to require sacrifices from all of us."

The Premier said Ms Nolan's previous Transport portfolio would go to Annastacia Palaszczuk.

"Annastacia understands the importance of transport - both in terms of its critical role in the economic infrastructure of our State and its increasing significance for commuters in cities and towns.

"She grew up in, and now represents, an area that relies on good public transport.

Ms Palaszczuk will also retain her Multicultural Affairs portfolio.

"Annastacia has been a great advocate for the many different cultures represented in our community, and a great supporter of embracing the benefits of diversity."

Ms Bligh said these changes were in addition to new roles for Deputy Premier Paul Lucas, Treasurer Andrew Fraser an d Ministers Geoff Wilson and Cameron Dick.

Deputy Premier Paul Lucas will become Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State, while Treasurer Andrew Fraser will also take on the role of Minister for State Development and Trade.

Minister Geoff Wilson will take on the Health portfolio and Cameron Dick will take on the role of Education Minister, as well as retaining his Industrial Relations portfolio.

The Premier will finalise the Ministry today before the swearing in tomorrow.

Ends.

==============================================================

[ozbob]

Media Release 20 February 2011

SEQ:  Changes in Transport, Springfield rail here we come!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has thanked Minister Rachel Nolan for her role as Transport Minister and congratulates Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk on her appointment as Transport Minister.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The Premier of Queensland, accompanied by Ministers Nolan and Palaszczuk today at Richlands rail station announced that Springfield railway construction including stations at Springfield and Springfield Lakes, with early works for Ellen Grove station is to commence this year with the successful awarding of the construction contract to the Trackstar Alliance."

"The Premier also announced that the new Transport Minister will be Annastacia Palaszczuk and Minister Nolan is to move to Finance and Arts."

"We congratulate the new Transport Minister on her appointment, but particularly wish to thank and acknowledge the contributions to Transport made by Minister Nolan.  We appreciate greatly the opportunity to put our view point as part of the democratic process.  Minister Nolan has always listened and that is important."

Reference:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3940.msg48262#msg48262

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[curator49]

It is disappointing however, that the new Transport Minister has also been appointed Minister for Multicultural Affairs. Public transport and transport in general is a big area of responsibility. It is a shame that it has been seen fit to dilute that very important responsibility with another Ministry as well.

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times click here!

New roles for Nolan

New roles for Nolan

21st February 2011

OUTGOING Minister for Transport, Ipswich MP Rachel Nolan, has nominated the controversial QR National privatisation as the most significant economic reform in a generation.

Unions stridently opposed the Bligh Government's sell-off of Queensland Rail assets.

"It's put the State in a better financial position today and I'm proud of it," Ms Nolan said.

"I'm a Labor MP and I got into politics to make a change – to help create sustainable communities, to ensure ordinary working people get a fair go.

"I always believed politics was the most direct way to contribute to society and I still believe that."

In Premier Anna Bligh's Cabinet reshuffle, Ms Nolan has been shifted from the transport portfolio – a position she's held for about two years – to take on the role of Minister for Finance and the Arts.

Ms Bligh said the creation of the Finance portfolio meant Treasurer Andrew Fraser would be able to focus on consolidating the State's budget, and its economic and trade relations to drive Queensland's economy. Ms Nolan said she would miss the transport portfolio.

"It's a diverse and interesting portfolio with nearly 20,000 transport and QR workers doing great things every day," she said. "We expanded the size of the public transport system, and we're building a lot more public transport infrastructure.

"In the new role I'll assist with the Queensland Budget, run a number of the government-owned corporations and play a greater economic role.

"I'm very thrilled about it."

The new Cabinet will be sworn in this morning at Government House.

[ozbob]

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh
21/02/2011

Premier announces new Cabinet portfolio responsibilities

Premier Anna Bligh has today unveiled her reshaped, re-invigorated Cabinet including portfolio responsibilities for three new Ministers as well as sweeping changes to portfolios to reflect the government's key priority of rebuilding the state.

"We face an enormous task this year as we get on with the job of rebuilding Queensland after the dual disasters of widespread flooding and Tropical Cyclone Yasi," Ms Bligh said.

"And this is the right team and the right mix of portfolio responsibilities to get Queensland through this massive job of rebuilding and recovery.

"My message to the new Cabinet is clear: We each have two priorities this year - rebuilding and delivering.

"That means getting on with the job of reconstructing our state in the wake of the most devastating disasters in our recent history and getting on with the job of delivering services like health and education and transport for all Queenslanders."

Bligh Government Ministry

Anna Bligh

Premier and Minister for Reconstruction

Paul Lucas

Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State.

Andrew Fraser

Treasurer and Minister for State Development and Trade

Geoff Wilson

Health

Neil Roberts

Police, Corrective and Emergency Services

Stephen Robertson

Energy and Water Utilities

Craig Wallace

Main Roads, Fisheries and Marine Infrastructure

Cameron Dick

Education and Industrial Relations

Tim Mulherin

Agriculture, Food and Regional Economies

Stirling Hinchliffe

Employment, Skills and Mining

Rachel Nolan

Finance and Arts

Kate Jones

Environment and Resource Management

Annastacia Palaszczuk

Transport and Multicultural Affairs

Phil Reeves

Child Safety and Sport

Karen Struthers

Community Services, Housing and Women

Jan Jarratt

Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business

Simon Finn

Government Services, Building Industry and ICT

Curtis Pitt

Disabilities, Mental Health and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships

Parliamentary Secretaries

    * Judy Spence - Parliamentary Reform
    * Michael Choi - Trade and Multicultural Affairs
    * Murray Watt - Treasurer and State Development
    * Julie Attwood - Health
    * Peta-Kaye Croft - Assisting the Premier on the Gold Coast and Commonwealth Games
    * Betty Kiernan - Emergency Services
    * Steve Wettenhall - Assisting the Premier and Economic Development in the Far North

21 February 2011

==============================================================

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times click here!

Rail lobby gives MP transport pass

Rail lobby gives MP transport pass

Zane Jackson | 22nd February 2011

A COMMUTER lobby group says Ipswich MP Rachel Nolan's tenure as transport minister had upsides and downsides after she was taken off the portfolio on Sunday.

Member for Ipswich Rachel Nolan has swapped the Transport portfolio for Finance and the Arts.

A COMMUTER lobby group says Ipswich MP Rachel Nolan's tenure as transport minister had upsides and downsides after she was taken off the portfolio on Sunday.

Premier Bligh announced the rejig on the back of a weekend poll which showed a massive rebound in her popularity, rising from 35 to 58% as the preferred premier.

The cabinet reshuffle has been seen as a clearing of the decks by the Premier to maintain her resurgent popularity ahead of an election early next year.

Robert Dow, a spokesman for commuter lobby group Rail Back on Track, said there were upsides and downsides to Nolan's time in the Transport role.

Mr Dow said highlights included the improvement of infrastructure, including the upcoming Springfield train line and duplication works in Brisbane which created scope for better timetables.

"There have been improvements to infrastructure, but we feel a better fee structure could have been introduced for the Go Card," Mr Dow said.

He said Ms Nolan had always listened to suggestions his group made.

Ms Nolan said her move from Transport Minister to the portfolios of Finance and Arts is a promotion within Premier Anna Bligh's cabinet.

She said she was excited about her new roles, including the newly-created Finance portfolio, which would take in half the work currently done by Treasury.

"What the Government has done is split Treasury, because the Treasurer has taken on State Development as well," she said.

"I will be responsible for financial regulation, for cutting red tape, for all of the government-owned corporations and for assisting the Treasurer in planning the budget."

Ms Nolan said highlights in her previous role included rail projects to Redcliffe and Springfield, more public transport seats and the privatisation of Queensland Rail.

It was the privatisation of Queensland Rail which attracted her the most criticism and the scrapping of some Ipswich bus services. On the Sunday her removal from the Transport portfolio was announced a power fault at East Ipswich station caused trains between Dinmore and Walloon to be suspended and replaced by buses between 8.30am and 3.45pm.

Ms Nolan said she was also looking forward to the Arts portfolio, and would be a strong advocate for regional arts.