Ministerial Statement

CABINET RESHUFFLE

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:01): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: I have indicated previously that I intended to reshuffle ministerial portfolios at about this time; in fact, I said 'late July or early August'. I am now able to announce to this house the changes to my cabinet, which will become effective following a special Executive Council meeting and swearing-in ceremony involving His Excellency the Governor, Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce, at Government House tomorrow.

I think it is important to freshen up the ministry every few years in order to keep new ideas flowing and new perspectives on issues. This is not a total makeover of the cabinet because I believe ministers have been performing very well and I want to maintain stability within our solidly performing government. However, remixing portfolio responsibilities can stimulate new ideas and bring a fresh approach. Ten of the 15-member cabinet will either change posts or take on or lose various portfolios. This reshuffle affects about two-thirds of the members of the cabinet, so 10 of the 15-member cabinet will either change posts or take on or lose various portfolios. The changes are designed to broaden the experiences of ministers. It is not about creating winners or losers.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. M.D. RANN: It is very interesting that members opposite reshuffle their leaders. They stab them in the back. This is the fifth Liberal leader I have had to face and he is still stabbing his former leader in the back—as he did before. The changes are designed to broaden the experiences of ministers.

One of the most significant changes will be the creation of a new portfolio of Minister for the Northern Suburbs. This responsibility will be taken on by the member for Wright, who changes her portfolios completely, also taking on the roles of Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing and Minister for Disability.

The member for Wright, who is a long-time resident of the northern suburbs, has lived and represented people in the area for many years. She has incredible empathy for people in the northern region and will champion their causes strongly around the cabinet table, in the same way that the Minister for the Southern Suburbs champions the causes for that area. As a mother and grandmother with a strong community involvement, already she has a very good grasp of the roles and responsibilities of the Families and Communities portfolio, and I am confident that she will become a strong leader in her other responsibilities as Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing and Minister for Disability.

The member for Cheltenham will take on environment and conservation, as well as the new portfolio of early childhood development. As a father of two young children, he has a passionate interest in this area. He will keep his other portfolios of Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, and Minister Assisting the Premier in Cabinet Business and Public Sector Management.

The Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education (the member for Colton), will lose the gambling portfolio to the Hon. Carmel Zollo, but he will take on the tough industrial relations portfolio, as well as volunteers. As a former firefighter and a former secretary of the South Australian and National United Firefighters Union, the member for Colton will bring terrific experience to his new industrial relations responsibilities. He maintains his portfolios of science and information economy, and youth, as well as employment, training and further education.

Other changes include the member for Adelaide relinquishing children's services and taking on the important mental health and substance abuse portfolio, whilst retaining education, tourism, and the City of Adelaide.

The Hon. Paul Holloway will take over the small business portfolio from the member for Chaffey because I want the member for Chaffey to concentrate solely on the vitally important area of water security and because she has recently taken over full responsibilities for SA Water. She will maintain her responsibilities as Minister for the River Murray and Minister for Water Security. Her regional development role will shift to the member for Mount Gambier, who retains his other portfolios of agriculture, food, fisheries and forests.

The member for Lee will take on the responsibilities of police and emergency services, while maintaining his role as Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing.

The Hon. Gail Gago will take over the portfolios of Minister for State/Local Government Relations—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: —Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, and minister assisting in the important transport, infrastructure and energy areas.

I am confident that the changes I have announced today will further enhance our strong and stable government, which is working for the benefit of all South Australians. As I say, meanwhile on the other side of the house they have had five Liberal leaders. I have had to face five Liberal leaders. They just keep reshuffling, because all they are about is their own jobs, not the jobs of South Australians, stabbing each other in the back, including stabbing Iain Evans in the back for the second time.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! When I call for order, I expect the order to be observed.