New Cabinet

Statement – Peter Gutwein, Premier, 18 May 2021

Statement on new Cabinet

I want to thank Tasmanians once again for voting for a majority Liberal Government.

They voted for stability and for certainty, at the time Tasmania needs it most.

We have laid out a clear plan to secure Tasmania’s future. To continue building on our strong economic position, to create jobs and ensure we have the skills and training pathways Tasmanians need.

To invest strongly in health, in education and housing, and to continue creating jobs by delivering our record infrastructure program, which is building better and safer communities.

I will continue to lead a Government of conviction and compassion, and my priority is to ensure Tasmanians, no matter their circumstances or background, will have the opportunity to benefit from our growing State.

Today I am announcing my Cabinet and their ministerial portfolios, and other official roles and responsibilities of the Government.

The Cabinet I am announcing today provides the mix of experience, passion and energy to secure Tasmania’s future.

As Premier, I will also retain the portfolios of Treasury, Tourism and Climate Change.

The important portfolio for the Prevention of Family Violence will move to our new Minister, Jacquie Petrusma. Jacquie is a survivor of family violence, and I know what an advocate she is for this portfolio, which I know she will lead with passion and strength.

Jacquie will replace Mark Shelton, who will be the Government’s nomination for Speaker.

Jacquie’s other portfolios will be Police, Fire and Emergency Management, and also Parks – for which she is an experienced advocate.

After seven very successful years in the Education portfolio, Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff will take on the responsibility for Health.

The Government has invested significantly into health over the last seven years and we are committed to making health better, Jeremy has the experience to ensure that we continue to deliver on this commitment.

Jeremy will retain Mental Health and Wellbeing, as well as Advanced Manufacturing and Defence Industries, while he will have the new portfolio of Community Services and Development.

Sarah Courtney, after leading Tasmania successfully through the COVID pandemic in the Health portfolio, will become Education Minister, and Minister for Skills, Training and Workforce Development.

She will also be responsible for implementing our reforms to TasTafe, to ensure we can skill and train more Tasmanians for the jobs that are on offer in our strong growing economy. She will be the Minister for the new portfolio of Children and Youth, aligning strongly with Education, as well as Minister for Disability Services and Minister for Hospitality and Events.

Michael Ferguson will be responsible for building Tasmania. He will be appointed as the Minister for the new portfolio of State Development, Construction and Housing. He will also retain the portfolios of Infrastructure and Transport.

This effectively consolidates the building and development portfolios under one Minister, to aid strong delivery.

Michael will also retain the Finance portfolio, assisting me in my role as Treasurer, as well as Science and Technology, along with his important role as Leader of Government Business in the House of Assembly.

The very experienced Guy Barnett will be given the responsibility for the Trade portfolio, which is critical as we rebuild from COVID, while he will remain Minister for Primary Industries and Minister for Resources, retaining responsibility for the export orientated aspects of our economy – Agriculture, Aquaculture, Fishing, Mining and Forestry.

He will also continue his strong work in Energy, and will be tasked with the additional responsibility of emissions reduction, as the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction. He will also retain the Veterans’ Affairs portfolio, for which he is a strong advocate.

Elise Archer will continue as the State’s Attorney-General, where she has demonstrated great capacity. Elise has the legal background, experience and drive to fulfil this role to the highest level.

Elise will also retain the portfolios of Justice, Corrections and the Arts, as well as the new portfolio of Minister for Workplace Safety and Consumer Affairs.

Jane Howlett, who has performed exceptionally well in the portfolios of Racing and Sport and Recreation, will also become the Minister for Small Business and the Minister for Women – for which she has been a passionate advocate.

Roger Jaensch will be the Minister for State Growth and will be tasked with ensuring that business and industry is supported to grow and prosper. Roger will also begin the process of Local Government reform in line with the PESRAC recommendations, as the Minister for Local Government, and he will retain the role of Minister for Planning.

Roger will continue his work as Minister for the Environment and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, as well as take on the Heritage portfolio.

Nic Street will be the Government’s nomination for Chair of Committees (Deputy Speaker) given his experience in the Speaker’s chair.

Madeleine Ogilvie is a very welcome addition to the Government Party Room and will take on the role of Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier.

John Tucker will continue as Government Whip and also Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier.

Leonie Hiscutt will continue her very important work as Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council and will be supported by Jo Palmer as Deputy Leader.

The new Ministry will be sworn in tomorrow, officially beginning our historic third term in Government.

My Cabinet will meet for the first time tomorrow to get straight down to business in our new roles.

As a priority our initial focus will be formalising the delivery of our First 100 Day Plan.

State Parliament will return on June 22 and will resume its current schedule for the rest of the year.

My entire team and I are energised about the important job before us to deliver our plan to secure this great State’s future.

As I said on election night there is no doubt that our best days are ahead of us and we are strongly committed to the task at hand.

Media release – Anita Dow MP, Acting Labor Leader, 18 May 2021

Peter Gutwein moves on yet another failed Health Minister

Peter Gutwein has moved on yet another failed Health Minister in today’s announcement of his new Cabinet.

Acting Labor Leader, Anita Dow, said the Liberals had gone through three Health Ministers in as many years.

“This will be the Liberal Party’s third attempt to get it right for Tasmania’s ailing health system with Sarah Courtney today dumped from the role in favour of Jeremy Rockliff,” Ms Dow said.

“With no stability in this critical portfolio over the past three years, how can Tasmanians have confidence in this government to fix our health crisis?

“Tasmanians would also be left wondering why Peter Gutwein didn’t demote Michael Ferguson from the critical Infrastructure portfolio given his appalling track record of delivering crucial infrastructure projects for this State.

“Instead, Michael Ferguson has also been put in charge of fixing our housing crisis – it beggars belief and Tasmanians deserve better.

“Peter Gutwein is simply moving problems and plugging holes in a cabinet with all the depth of a paddling pool.

“This new Cabinet has been formed in the shadow of the disgraceful Adam Brooks saga and raises serious questions about how Peter Gutwein can continue to distance himself from this fiasco and push ahead with this announcement despite not having a replacement for Adam Brooks.

“Given Peter Gutwein’s abject failure to see, hear or believe women, we welcome his removal from the portfolios of Women and Prevention of Family Violence.

“Now that the Premier conceded his failure, he must come clean about the entire saga.”

Media release – Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Leader, 18 May 2021

The new Gutwein Cabinet is a mixed bag.

While we are pleased the critical Health portfolio has been placed in the hands of the Deputy Premier, it needs real investment to deliver the health care Tasmanians expect and deserve.

Given the years of underfunding and failing to reform Health, Mr Rockliff will need to be a tough negotiator at the Cabinet table as we head towards the State Budget.

We hope the Premier’s reduced portfolio load will mean he can now focus on budgeting for the people who need it most, including the 120 000 Tasmanians living in poverty and those struggling to find or keep a home.

While we welcome both Housing and Children being stripped from the hapless Roger Jaensch, it’s disappointing to see the Housing portfolio included in what looks a lot like construction portfolio. It’s an unfortunate reminder of the Liberals’ failure to see the human face of homelessness and housing insecurity.

As the Commission of Inquiry opens for submissions, we hope the new Minister for Children and Youth will make the real changes needed to ensure Tasmania is Australia’s safest state for children and young people.

We strongly urge Minister Courtney to do what her predecessors failed to do and close Ashley Youth Detention Centre.

Having a Minister responsible for both Parks and Fire Mangement should see the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area prioritised in a time of climate crisis.

We also trust the reappointment of the deserving and hard-working Jacquie Petrusma to Cabinet will be another opportunity for change.

Unlike her tone deaf predecessor, we hope Minister Petrusma will understand the EOI process for development in Parks and public protected areas is extremely unpopular amongst Tasmanians, who want an end to the EOI process.

Media release – Youth Network of Tasmania (YNOT), 18 May 2021

Youth Peak Body welcomes appointment of new Children and Youth Minister

Responsibility for children and youth affairs in Government has been assigned to newly appointed Minister for Children and Young People the Hon. Sarah Courtney MP. This appointment, announced by Premier Gutwein today has been welcomed by the state’s youth peak body, the Youth Network of Tasmania (YNOT).

Tania Hunt, YNOT CEO said, “YNOT has long advocated for the appointment of a Youth Minister in Tasmania to ensure a more coordinated and consistent approach in responding to youth affairs in this State.”

“Ministerial responsibility for children and young people, in addition to investing in the development of the Tasmanian Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy demonstrates the Government’s commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people in Tasmania.” Ms. Hunt.

“YNOT looks forward to working with Minister Courtney in her new role to ensure that issues impacting young Tasmanians are considered and inform decision making and policy development. Integral to this will be ensuring opportunities for young people to meaningfully participate in decision making that affects their lives,” said Ms. Hunt.

Media release – Tasmanian Small Business Council (TSBC), 18 May 2021

WARM WELCOME TO THE NEW MINISTER FOR SMALL BUSINESS, JANE HOWLETT

The Tasmanian Small Business Council (TSBC) has warmly welcomed the appointment of Jane Howlett as the new Minister for Small Business.

“Prior to her election, Ms Howlett ran successful small businesses for many years, and her practical experience and understanding of the sector will be of great benefit”, TSBC CEO Robert Mallett said.

“There are around 37,500 small businesses in Tasmania employing well over 100,000 Tasmanians.

“Therefore, it is also good to see the Small Business portfolio brought out from the shadow of the larger ministries, and allocated to a Minister who will be able to give us the time and attention our sector deserves.”

“We look to continue to have the Tasmanian small business sector recognised nationally as the most resilient in the nation in a State to be envied with our Minister firmly in our court”, said Mr Mallett