PREMIER AND DEPUTY TAKE CHARGE OF DELIVERING WATER GRID
Published Wednesday, 13 September, 2006 at 12:00 AM
Others
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Premier Peter Beattie and Deputy Premier Anna Bligh will ensure the water grid and other water infrastructure is delivered by taking personal responsibility for delivering the commitments.
“I have reshaped the Government so that it is ideally positioned to deal with all the challenges we are faced with and build on our achievements which include leading the nation in many areas of government,” said Mr Beattie.
“It also gives me the chance to take an overview of government as well as planning for the future.
“In addition to remaining as Treasurer, Anna Bligh will become the Minister for Infrastructure, a crucial new portfolio in which she will drive not only the provision of water infrastructure but also the $66 billion South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and all the other major infrastructure we need to cope with our massive growth.
“I will be working closely with Anna because Co-ordinator-General Ross Rolfe will remain in my department as Director-General and will play a major role in removing any obstacles that threaten to delay any part of the water grid.
“In his role as Co-Ordinator-General, Mr Rolfe will also report to the Deputy Premier on these issues.
“In addition to our roles, Kerry Shine will become the Minister for Natural Resources and Water, which will entail him being responsible for all other issues involving water.
“Yesterday I announced that a range of services and responsibilities would be transferred from Queensland Health to the Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors in order to allow Queensland Health to focus on delivering the $9.7 billion Health Action Plan.
“These changes will ensure that we deliver on our priorities of further improving Queensland Health through the Health Action Plan and of delivering the water grid.
“The reshaped Government also includes 11 Parliamentary Secretaries who will travel the State listening to Queenslanders and gaining Ministerial experience.
“Office space is yet to be allocated but my department drew up an estimate of the likely costs involved in increasing the number of Parliamentary Secretaries from six to 11 while cutting their staffing by 50%.
“It is estimated that we are likely to save $25,000 a year in salaries.
“But with extra travel as the Parliamentary Secretaries listen to people all over Queensland, it is likely that the new system will end up being cost neutral for taxpayers.
“In her role as Minister for Infrastructure, Anna Bligh will also oversee the Office of Urban Management.
“I am delighted by the multi-talented team I have as Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries.”
The full Cabinet is:
Peter Beattie, Premier and Minister for Trade
Anna Bligh – Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
Paul Lucas – Minister for Transport and Main Roads
Robert Schwarten – Minister for Public Works and Housing
Judy Spence – Minister for Police and Corrective Services
Rod Welford – Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts
Stephen Robertson – Minister for Health
John Mickel – Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
Warren Pitt – Minister Communities, Disability Services, Seniors and Youth
Desley Boyle – Minister for Child Safety
Linda Lavarch – Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Women
Margaret Keech – Minister for Tourism, Fair Trading and Wine Industry Development
Tim Mulherin – Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
Pat Purcell – Minister for Emergency Services
Andrew Fraser – Minister for Local Government, Planning and Sport
Geoff Wilson – Minister for Mines and Energy
Kerry Shine – Minister for Natural Resources and Water
Lindy Nelson-Carr – Minister for Environment and Multiculturalism
Parliamentary Secretaries have been appointed to their portfolios:
Julie Attwood – Child Safety
Bonny Barry – Education, Training and the Arts
Michael Choi – Environment and Multiculturalism
Gary Fenlon – State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
Jan Jarratt – Primary Industries and Fisheries
Ronan Lee – Communities, Disability Services, Seniors and Youth
Andrew McNamara – Main Roads
Phil Reeves – Transport
Neil Roberts - Treasury
Karen Struthers – Health
Craig Wallace – North Queensland
Contact: 3224 4500
September 13, 2006.
“I have reshaped the Government so that it is ideally positioned to deal with all the challenges we are faced with and build on our achievements which include leading the nation in many areas of government,” said Mr Beattie.
“It also gives me the chance to take an overview of government as well as planning for the future.
“In addition to remaining as Treasurer, Anna Bligh will become the Minister for Infrastructure, a crucial new portfolio in which she will drive not only the provision of water infrastructure but also the $66 billion South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and all the other major infrastructure we need to cope with our massive growth.
“I will be working closely with Anna because Co-ordinator-General Ross Rolfe will remain in my department as Director-General and will play a major role in removing any obstacles that threaten to delay any part of the water grid.
“In his role as Co-Ordinator-General, Mr Rolfe will also report to the Deputy Premier on these issues.
“In addition to our roles, Kerry Shine will become the Minister for Natural Resources and Water, which will entail him being responsible for all other issues involving water.
“Yesterday I announced that a range of services and responsibilities would be transferred from Queensland Health to the Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors in order to allow Queensland Health to focus on delivering the $9.7 billion Health Action Plan.
“These changes will ensure that we deliver on our priorities of further improving Queensland Health through the Health Action Plan and of delivering the water grid.
“The reshaped Government also includes 11 Parliamentary Secretaries who will travel the State listening to Queenslanders and gaining Ministerial experience.
“Office space is yet to be allocated but my department drew up an estimate of the likely costs involved in increasing the number of Parliamentary Secretaries from six to 11 while cutting their staffing by 50%.
“It is estimated that we are likely to save $25,000 a year in salaries.
“But with extra travel as the Parliamentary Secretaries listen to people all over Queensland, it is likely that the new system will end up being cost neutral for taxpayers.
“In her role as Minister for Infrastructure, Anna Bligh will also oversee the Office of Urban Management.
“I am delighted by the multi-talented team I have as Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries.”
The full Cabinet is:
Peter Beattie, Premier and Minister for Trade
Anna Bligh – Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
Paul Lucas – Minister for Transport and Main Roads
Robert Schwarten – Minister for Public Works and Housing
Judy Spence – Minister for Police and Corrective Services
Rod Welford – Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts
Stephen Robertson – Minister for Health
John Mickel – Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
Warren Pitt – Minister Communities, Disability Services, Seniors and Youth
Desley Boyle – Minister for Child Safety
Linda Lavarch – Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Women
Margaret Keech – Minister for Tourism, Fair Trading and Wine Industry Development
Tim Mulherin – Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
Pat Purcell – Minister for Emergency Services
Andrew Fraser – Minister for Local Government, Planning and Sport
Geoff Wilson – Minister for Mines and Energy
Kerry Shine – Minister for Natural Resources and Water
Lindy Nelson-Carr – Minister for Environment and Multiculturalism
Parliamentary Secretaries have been appointed to their portfolios:
Julie Attwood – Child Safety
Bonny Barry – Education, Training and the Arts
Michael Choi – Environment and Multiculturalism
Gary Fenlon – State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
Jan Jarratt – Primary Industries and Fisheries
Ronan Lee – Communities, Disability Services, Seniors and Youth
Andrew McNamara – Main Roads
Phil Reeves – Transport
Neil Roberts - Treasury
Karen Struthers – Health
Craig Wallace – North Queensland
Contact: 3224 4500
September 13, 2006.