Photo: Nathan Fulton/DFAT
More eco-tourism projects are on the cards after new Queensland Premier David Crisafulli announced his Cabinet on Friday.
The departments of Tourism and Environment will be merged under one portfolio with Andrew Powell named as minister.
“… we will overcome the roadblocks that have stood in the way of Queensland benefitting from important new eco-tourism opportunities,” Crisafulli says.
“While I intended to keep the Tourism portfolio, it has been evident during Machinery of Government discussions that only by bringing together Environment and Tourism will we realise the full potential of eco-tourism opportunities for Queensland.”
Youth crime, health, housing and cost of living top the list of priorities for the new government, Crisafulli says.
“Queenslanders have entrusted us to deliver a fresh start for Queensland, ending the crises in youth crime, health, housing and cost of living, and that’s what we’ll do with ministers starting work,” he says.
“This ministry puts community safety front and centre of government … ministers will have a laser-like focus on restoring safety where you live and reducing the number of Queenslanders falling victim to crime.”
Crisafulli says cost of living, housing and health would also be priorities.
He says they intend to reduce ambulance ramping below 30% and stabilise hospital wait lists with Tim Nicholls as health minister.
Treasurer David Janetzki assumes the Energy portfolio to downsize smaller “achievable” pumped-hydro projects.
Preparing the state for the 2032 Olympic Games is the responsibility of Olympic and Paralympic Games (and Sports) Minister Tim Mander.
Queenslanders will also benefit from a fresh approach to business with government, with the creation of Customer Services and Open Data ministries.
“A new Customer Service and Open Data portfolio, joined with Small and Family Business, will streamline government services for Queenslanders and small businesses,” he said.
“By separating out from Transport and Main Roads, it will allow Customer Service to stretch across every arm of government and deliver Australia’s most customer service focused government.”
CABINET (names and portfolios)
DAVID CRISAFULLI: Premier and Minister for Veterans;
JARROD BLEIJIE: Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations;
DAVID JANETZKI: Treasurer, Minister for Energy and Minister for Home Ownership;
ROS BATES: Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training;
DALE LAST: Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Minister for Manufacturing and Minister for Regional and Rural Development;
TIM NICHOLLS: Minister for Health and Ambulance Services;
DEB FRECKLINGTON: Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity;
JOHN-PAUL LANGBROEK: Minister for Education and the Arts;
DAN PURDIE: Minister for Police and Emergency Services;
LAURA GERBER: Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support and Minister for Corrective Services;
BRENT MICKELBERG: Minister for Transport and Main Roads;
ANN LEAHY: Minister for Local Government and Water and Minister for Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers;
SAM O’CONNOR: Minister for Housing and Public Works and Minister for Youth;
TONY PERRETT: Minister for Primary Industries;
FIONA SIMPSON: Minister for Women and Women’s Economic Security, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Minister for Multiculturalism;
ANDREW POWELL: Minister for the Environment and Tourism and Minister for Science and Innovation;
AMANDA CAMM: Minister for Families, Seniors and Disability Services and Minister for Child Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence;
TIM MANDER: Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games;
STEVE MINNIKIN: Minister for Customer Services and Open Data and Minister for Small and Family Business
