Women Dominate New Queensland Cabinet

For the first time in Australia’s history the Queensland Labor Government’s newly announced Cabinet is made up of more women than men.

Annastacia Palaszczuk was sworn in as Premier of Queensland on Saturday, becoming the first woman in Australia to be elected to the office directly from Opposition.

On Monday she announced that her Cabinet of 14 Ministers and one Assistant Minister would be comprised of eight women, including the first ever female Indigenous Member of Parliament, Leeane Enoch, and seven men.

In announcing her Cabinet Palaszczuk acknowledged the amazing turnaround Labor had made in Queensland.

“Today is historic. Three years ago there were seven of us. Look now,” Palaszczuk told a meeting of her new MPs.

“Three years ago I stood outside Parliament House and I said it was going to be like climbing Mount Everest.

“Well we have climbed Mount Everest.

“But having climbed Mount Everest there is now an enormous responsibility that needs to be placed on each and every caucus member sitting here today.”

Palaszczuk named Jackie Trad as her Deputy Premier, also the first time two women have held those positions at the same time anywhere in Australia.

“I also want to talk to you briefly about the style of government I will lead,” she said after putting an end to asset sales as her first act.

“That style of Government is completely different to what we have seen three years ago and completely different to what we have seen with Tony Abbott.

“This is going to be a Government of consensus.

“This is going to be a stable, strong government that will make sure that we restore confidence in the Queensland community and in the business sector.

“We will run a steady ship and we will value Queenslanders no matter where they live in this state. We will value them each and every day.

Seven of the new Ministers are first time MPs, but Palaszczuk insisted her Government would not be without experience.

“I have put my experienced Ministers of Cameron Dick and Kate Jones front and centre with Health and Education. These are important portfolios,” she said.

The full Queensland Labor Ministry is:

Annastacia Palaszczuk – Premier and Minister for Arts

Jackie Trad – Deputy Premier, Minister for Transport, Minister for Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, Minister for Trade

Curtis Pitt – Treasurer, Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships

Cameron Dick – Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services

Kate Jones – Minister for Education, Minister for Tourism, Major Events and Small Business, Minister for Commonwealth Games

Dr Anthony Lynham – Minister for State Development, Minister for Natural Resources and Mines

Yvette D'Ath – Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Minister for Training and Skills

Jo-Ann Miller – Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Minister for Corrective Services

Bill Byrne – Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Minister for Sport and Racing

Mark Bailey – Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Port, Minister for Energy and Water Supply

Leeanne Enoch – Minister for Housing and Public Works, Minister for Science and Innovation

Steven Miles – Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection, Minister for National Parks and the Great Barrier Reef

Coralee O'Rourke – Minister for Disability Services, Minister for Seniors, Minister assisting the Premier on North Queensland

Shannon Fentiman – Minister for Communities, Women and Youth, Minister for Child Safety, Minister for Multicultural Affairs

Stirling Hinchliffe – Assistant Minister of State Assisting the Premier