Premier Peter Gutwein has unveiled his new-look cabinet, shuffling crucial portfolios around and bringing a familiar face back into the ministerial fold.
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Mr Gutwein, whose government was officially re-elected with a majority last week, announced his frontbench on Tuesday.
Most notable among the various new appointments was Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff as Health Minister - the state's third in two years.
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The long-time Braddon MHA has served as Education Minister since 2014, with his performance in the role having won plaudits from stakeholders.
But Sarah Courtney will now take on education, relinquishing responsibility for health after holding the portfolio through COVID-19.
Mr Gutwein said the new cabinet would be sworn in at Government House on Wednesday.
"The cabinet I'm announcing today provides the mix of experience, passion and energy to secure Tasmania's future," he said on Tuesday.
The Premier said Mr Rockliff had had "seven very successful years" as Education Minister and had the experience to deliver on the government's health agenda.
"I think bringing together [the portfolio of] health with also mental health and wellbeing ... is something that will enable one minister to have a line of sight on the broader spectrum of the health portfolio," Mr Gutwein said. "And in terms of Jeremy Rockliff, he's demonstrated over a long period of time that he has capacity, he has courage."
"It is a taxing portfolio. And I want to make the point that Sarah did an outstanding job during COVID. She stood with me on nearly 70 occasions in a row [at media conferences] ... I think having the responsibility now for education, but also for children, who are our greatest asset, I'm sure Sarah will acquit herself very well in that portfolio."
Mr Gutwein will no longer have carriage of the prevention of family violence portfolio, believing Franklin MHA Jacquie Petrusma, herself a survivor of family violence, is the best person for the job. She will also be responsible for the parks and police, fire and emergency management portfolios.
A former human services minister, Mrs Petrusma returns to cabinet after spending two years on the backbench for health reasons.
Bass MHA Michael Ferguson will remain in the finance and infrastructure portfolios, but will also take on the newly created State Development, Construction and Housing portfolio. Mr Gutwein said Mr Ferguson would be responsible for "building Tasmania".
Lyons MHA Guy Barnett will be the new Trade Minister, and keep his primary industries and water, resources, veterans' affairs and energy portfolios. He will also now be the Emissions Reductions Minister.
Ex-housing minister Roger Jaensch will be the new State Growth Minister, and assume responsibility for local government and heritage. Elise Archer will stay on as Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Corrections and Minister for the Arts, as well as shouldering the new workplace safety and consumer affairs portfolio.
Racing Minister Jane Howlett will become Minister for Small Business and Minister for Women.
The government's nomination for Speaker of the House of Assembly will be Lyons MHA and former Meander Valley mayor Mark Shelton. Nic Street will be the nominee for Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees.
The cabinet I'm announcing today provides the mix of experience, passion and energy to secure Tasmania's future.
- Peter Gutwein, Premier
Acting Labor leader Anita Dow said another change in health ministers showed there was "no stability in thie critical portfolio". "How can Tasmanians have confidence in this government to fix our health crisis?" she said.
Ms Dow said the Premier was "simply moving problems and plugging holes in a cabinet with all the depth of a paddling pool".
Greens leader Cassy O'Connor said the new cabinet was a "mixed bag".
"While we welcome both [the] housing and children [portfolios] being stripped from the hapless Roger Jaensch, it's disappointing to see the housing portfolio included in what looks a lot like a construction portfolio," she said. "It's an unfortunate reminder of the Liberals' failure to see the human face of homelessness and housing insecurity."
Parliament will return on Tuesday, June 22.
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