STATE Opposition leader Lawrence Springborg has confirmed the LNP's shadow ministry, but has reserved announcing the new team out of respect to Queenslanders battling Cyclone Marcia.
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In a letter to LNP members today, Mr Springborg said the line-up of 19 MPs, versus Labor's pared-back Cabinet of 14, demonstrated the right balance of "experience, competence and stability".
"This carefully selected team will serve the interests of all Queenslanders as it reflects the regional and urban mix of our great state," he said.
Missing from the frontbench is former deputy premier Jeff Seeney, relegated to chairman of the parliamentary policy committee, strategy and coordination.
Nanango MP Deb Frecklington, Campbell Newman's former assistant to the premier, has received her own shadow portfolio as opposition spokesperson for agriculture. LNP staffers have told QCL that no woman has ever held the agriculture brief, either in opposition or in government.
In a brief interview with QCL today, Ms Frecklington said winning the post was a long-held ambition, stating that she had already held fruitful discussions with AgForce CEO Charles Burke and other talks planned with QFF CEO Dan Galligan first thing Monday.
Her predecessor in the role while in government, John McVeigh, has been demoted to the low profile portfolio of shadow minister for science, information technology and innovation.
Mr Springborg has passed the duties for shadowing health to Mark McArdle, the role he held before the Newman government's election win in 2012.
A spokesman for Mr Springborg said a full statement on the LNP shadow ministry would be made on Monday.
"The story is not about us today," the spokesman said. "The story is about the many Queenslanders affected by today's terrible weather events."
The LNP shadow ministers are:
- Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg
- Shadow Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Commonwealth Games, John-Paul Langbroek
- Shadow Minister for Environment, Heritage Protection and National Parks, Stephen Bennett
- Shadow Minister for Police, Fire, Emergency Services and Corrective Services, Jarrod Bleijie
- Shadow Assistant Minister to the Opposition Leader for North Queensland, Jason Costigan
- Shadow Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, State Development and Northern Development, Andrew Cripps
- Shadow Minister for Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services, Tracy Davis
- Shadow Minister for Transport, Scott Emerson
- Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Deb Frecklington
- Shadow Minister for Education & Training, Tim Mander
- Shadow Minister for Health, Mark McArdle
- Shadow Minister for Science, Information Technology and Innovation, John McVeigh
Shadow Minister for Housing and Public Works, Rob Molhoek
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Planning, Small Business, Employment and Trade, Tim Nicholls
- Shadow Minister for Energy and Water Supply, Andrew Powell
- Shadow Minister for Local Government and Main Roads, Community Recovery and Resilience, Fiona Simpson
- Shadow Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs, Tarnya Smith
- Shadow Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Sport and Racing, Jann Stuckey
- Shadow Attorney-General and Shadow Minister for Justice, Industrial Relations and Arts, Ian Walker
- Leader of Opposition Business in the House, Ray Stevens
(Brad Cooper, QCL)
