ROCKHAMPTON MP Bill Byrne has been recycled as Queensland’s agriculture minister, after left faction MP Mark Ryan from Morayfield was named police minister.
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Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk made the announcement at Government House early this afternoon.
Ms Palaszczuk’s new look cabinet follows the departure of disgraced Bundaberg Leanne Donaldson, who quit cabinet after stunning revelations she had not paid almost $8000 in council rates and had driven an unregistered vehicle.
Mr Byrne, who was agriculture and fisheries minister for 10 months until December last year, was promoted to the police, fire, and emergency services and corrective services portfolios following the departure of disgraced Bundamba MP Jo-Ann Miller. Mr Byrne has also been named the rural economic development minister.
AgForce chief executive officer Charles Burke said Mr Byrne has earned a reputation as an “understanding” minister and someone who wanted to be a strong advocate for agriculture within cabinet.
“I stress wanted to be a strong advocate,” Mr Burke said. “We remain very concerned that agriculture as an economic powerhouse of Queensland is treated the way it is at times by cabinet.”
Agriculture and fisheries has long been regarded as the most junior portfolio within the Palaszczuk ministry. However, Ms Palaszczuk will be desperate to bring some stability to her ministry. She still remains under pressure to sack transport minister Stirling Hinchliffe over his handling of the train driver fiasco.
In line with Labor’s factional machinations, left faction MP Mark Ryan from Morayfield has been handed the prized police portfolio. The 33 year old former lawyer was an assistant minister to the premier.
Gladstone MP Glenn Butcher, who is the chair of parliament’s Agriculture and Environment Committee, has become an assistant minister responsible for local government and infrastructure. Ipswich MP Jennifer Howard has been named the assistant minister of state assisting the premier.
Despite her departure from cabinet Ms Donaldson remains the member for Bundaberg. A by election could potentially bring down the minority Palaszczuk government. Labor has 42 seats in the Queensland’s 89 seat parliament, relying on labor-turned-independents Billy Gordon and Rob Pyne and independent speaker Peter Wellington for support. The LNP opposition holds also 42 seats and the Katter Party two seats.
Ms Donaldson quit cabinet on November 3. Mr Byrne was acting agriculture minister in addition to his law and order portfolios.
