Media release – Jeremy Rockliff, Premier, 11 April 2022 

Tasmanian Liberal Government Ministry

Today I am pleased to announce a new Tasmanian Liberal Government Ministry and welcome Jo Palmer to join our Cabinet to continue the job of delivering our plan to secure Tasmania’s future.

Jo Palmer is an exceptionally experienced and hard-working representative of the community and will become Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Minister for Disability Services and Minister for Women. Jo will also remain Deputy leader for the Government in the Legislative Council.

Since becoming a Member of the Legislative Council in August 2020, Jo has been a strong and committed member of the Rosevears electorate and is passionate about increasing community pride, local jobs and small business growth.

I extend my congratulations to Jo who I know will excel in this role.

As Premier, I will retain the portfolios of Health and Mental Health, as these are my first priorities, because I believe health and wellbeing are the foundations to a prosperous community.

I will also lead the portfolios of tourism and trade, which, as we recover from the effects of the global pandemic will be strategically imperative to ensure a diverse and resilient economy, with our culture and brand integral across both areas.

As Deputy Premier, Michael Ferguson will be Treasurer, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, as well as Minister for Planning.  The importance of alignment in these areas will assist in strategic oversight of community infrastructure needs, plans and delivery.

Attorney General, Elise Archer, will retain the portfolio of Justice, while also being Minister for Corrections and Rehabilitation.  With our strong focus on community safety, I believe an equally strong focus on therapeutic care and rehabilitation is essential, to allow people who have done the time for crime, the opportunity to gain the skills and support they need to fully participate in society.

The Attorney General will also retain the portfolios of Workplace Safety and Consumer Affairs, as well as Minister for Arts.

Guy Barnett will be Minister for State Development, Construction and Housing.

I know Guy’s strong work ethic and commitment to delivery will help bring to fruition the boldest housing development plan in Tasmania’s history to increase the supply of affordable and social housing and put downward pressure on rent. While his other portfolios of Energy and Renewables, as well as Resources, align well with State Development given the significance of opportunities in these areas.  Minister Barnett will also retain the portfolio of Veteran’s Affairs.

Roger Jaensch will be Minister for Education, Children and Youth, and Minister for Skills, Training and Workforce Growth – as I believe it essential these portfolios have strategic alignment to give young Tasmanians the best opportunity to get the support, education and training they need, from cradle to career.

Minister Jaensch will also have the portfolios of Environment and Climate Change, as well as Aboriginal Affairs.

Madeleine Ogilvie will be Minister for Small Business, Minister for Advanced Manufacturing and Defence Industries, Minister for Science and Technology, as well as Minister for Heritage. Minister Ogilvie will also retain the portfolio of Racing.

Jacquie Petrusma retains the portfolios of Police, Fire and Emergency Management, Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence and Minister for Parks.

Nic Street, who has been incredibly hard working in the role as Minister for Sport and Recreation, will also be Minister for Hospitality and Events, Minister for Community Services and Development and Minister for Local Government, with the focus on building strong, connected and thriving communities.

Minister Street will also be Leader of the House.

Mark Shelton will remain Speaker.

John Tucker will remain Chair of Committees and Deputy Speaker, and Felix Ellis will remain Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier and Government Whip.

Lara Alexander will take on the role of Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for State Development, Construction and Housing, given Lara’s strong experience in this area.

Leonie Hiscutt will continue to be Leader for the Government in the Legislative Council, with Nick Duigan and Jane Howlett serving as strong representatives of their electorates of Windermere and Prosser respectively.

We have a strong, united and experienced team, and we have balanced and aligned portfolios across members to ensure a focus on delivery.

I acknowledge all members of my parliamentary Liberal team and I know they will serve Tasmanians well in helping to realise this vision.

The new Ministry will be sworn in at Government House tomorrow.

Media release – Jo Palmer, Liberal Member for Rosevears, 1 April 2022

Statement from Jo Palmer

Taking on the role of Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Minister for Disability Services and Minister for Women is an honour and privilege I am humbled to accept.

I didn’t put my hand up to join Parliament to take a back seat and I am excited, energised and more than ready for the challenge that lies ahead.

Importantly, I’m honoured to be a part of the Rockliff Liberal Government which has a vision for Tasmania to be a place where everyone feels valued, included, encouraged and supported to be the best they can be.

This is a vision I share, and as Minister a vision I will champion.

As Minister for Primary Industries and Water I look forward to continuing the important work of Minister Guy Barnett, which includes record investments into our sustainable primary industries.

This sector is booming and leading the nation, which in turn is driving regional communities and building a future for Tasmanians by creating jobs.

As Minister for Disability Services, I am looking forward to delivering on our commitment to establish the first ever Disability Services Commissioner.

We have 140,000 Tasmanians that identify as having some sort of disability, and I want to ensure we are providing the supports and services they need, when they need it.

And finally, as Minster for Women, I am empowered to finalise our Women’s Strategy, which is now out for public consultation.

I know this Strategy will pave the way to creating a more inclusive Tasmania which enables Tasmanian women and girls to fully participate in all aspects of our State’s life.

These are things that are important to me, and I am so excited to be able to work hard for all Tasmanians in my new role as a Minister.

Media release – Dean Winter MP, Leader of Opposition Business in the House of Assembly, 11 April 2022

Revolving door of Ministers a telling sign of Liberals turmoil and instability

Almost a decade after the Liberals came to power, no fewer than 19 Ministries have been sworn in, with seven of those so far in 2022.

The new Cabinet announced by Premier Rockliff today highlights the Liberal’s shallow talent pool with various underperforming Ministers now loaded up with increased responsibilities and important areas of delivery like housing handballed from one Minister to another.

This is a deeply divided, chaotic government that has been an abject failure in delivering on health and education and infrastructure.

It’s not the government that Tasmanians were promised less than a year ago when they were dragged early to the polls and after 11 months of chaos, they deserve better.

Media release – Ella Haddad, Shadow Minister for Housing, 11 April 2022

Action on housing – not slogans – is what Tasmanians need from Barnett

After nearly a decade of neglect by the Liberal Government, the fact that Guy Barnett now holds the critical portfolio of housing will bring little comfort to more than 4,400 Tasmanian families who languish on the social housing waitlist.

We have a housing system in complete crisis with people being forced into homelessness, regularly turned away from shelters, stuck on social housing waitlists, finding it near impossible to secure private rentals and facing house price rises in the top five in the world.

In his first media address as Premier, Mr Rockliff outlined the importance of housing for all Tasmanians.

The appointment of sloganeering Mr Barnett to this critical portfolio today puts in question Mr Rockliff’s true commitment to housing and homelessness.

What Tasmanians need now is a Housing Minister who is up to the task.

What Tasmanians need now is a Housing Minister who is accountable.

What Tasmanians need now is a Housing Minister who can deliver on their promises and not just repeat slogans.

While we welcome Mr Rockliff’s decision to sack his ‘loyal’ Deputy Michael Ferguson from the role, it is questionable if Mr Barnett is any more capable than his multitude of predecessors.

Media release – Kristie Johnston MP, Independent Member for Clark, 12 April 2022

Minister Barnett must prioritise housing crisis

The Independent Member for Clark, Kristie Johnston, says the Liberal Government is continuing to play a game of hot potato with the housing portfolio after it was thrown to its fourth Minister since the Liberals came to power in 2014.

“While thousands of Tasmanians are waiting desperately for a roof over their heads and somewhere to sleep at night, it seems that this Government keeps shuffling the responsibility around from Minister to Minister,” Ms Johnston said.

“I call on the new Housing Minister, Guy Barnett, to do what others have failed to do and take steps to ease the immediate pressure, particularly in the private rental market. His predecessors have previously ruled out common sense suggestions like limiting short stay accommodation and incentivising the release of vacant homes. Both these suggestions would provide up hundreds if not thousands of new homes into the private rental market.

Minister Barnett now has an opportunity to make his mark, get some quick runs on the board, and more importantly, help those desperate Tasmanians who will sleep rough again tonight.

I invite Minister Barnett to meet with me and the constituents who I am currently working with so he can hear first-hand their daily struggle and understand how he can help,” Ms Johnston said.