Premier David Crisafulli Names Cabinet

Queensland’s 41st Premier, David Crisafulli, has announced his new cabinet following a historic election that ended almost ten years of Labor rule. While some seats are still being counted, the LNP is poised to secure a decisive majority with 53 seats. Labor will retain 35 seats, Katter’s Australian Party 3, the Greens 1, and an Independent in the 93-seat Legislative Assembly.

Premier Crisafulli stated he would appoint his shadow ministers into similar cabinet portfolios. However, today’s ministry unveiling comes with some surprises, with several portfolios being reshuffled.

Among the key changes, Treasurer David Janetzki also taking on the Energy portfolio stands out, while Tim Nicholls will oversee Health. Longstanding Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates has been shifted to Finance, Trade, Employment and Training; Deb Frecklington steps into the Attorney-General role; former NRL referee Tim Mander picks up the high-profile Olympic and Paralympic Games portfolio; and former Environment Shadow Minister Sam O’Connor is assigned Housing.

Former Shadow Minister for Education, Dr. Christian Rowan, has been appointed Leader of the House, whilst the only new face, Glass House MP Andrew Powell, who was previously manager of opposition business, will oversee the portfolios of Environment and Tourism, and Science and Innovation.

A complete list of cabinet positions is provided at the end of this note.

Inner circle of David Crisafulli

Premier Crisafulli has built a trusted inner circle during his time in opposition which includes his Deputy, Jarrod Bleijie, Treasurer David Janetzki, and former party leaders Deb Frecklington, John-Paul Langbroek, and Tim Nicholls. Rising stars Brent Mickelberg, Sam O’Connor and Laura Gerber also have the ear of the premier and step into important portfolios in government.

Behind the scenes, Premier Crisafulli relies on trusted advisors like Chief of Staff Richard Ferrett, Director of Communications Rob Morrison, and Policy Director Tony Meredith, all of whom played pivotal roles in opposition and will continue to be key influencers in government.

What to expect in the new Government’s first 100 days

Premier Crisafulli has been clear that Queensland’s four pressing crises – cost of living, crime, healthcare, and housing – will be at the forefront of his government’s agenda, and the focus of initiatives and legislative changes.

In a bid for transparency, the LNP has outlined a clear checklist of promises and goals for the first week, month, end of the year, and 100-day mark. This framework allows Queenslanders to track progress on each commitment. Among the key early actions, the Crisafulli-led government aims to pass the Making Queensland Safer laws by Christmas and complete a comprehensive review of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, covering planning and legacy impacts within its first 100 days.

Given the government’s immediate focus on these four crises, stakeholders may find it challenging to engage with state ministers on unrelated matters in the initial months.

Pre-poll voting’s influence

The extraordinary rise in pre-poll voting reflects a notable shift towards early decision-making among voters and signals a decline in the influence of last-minute campaign pushes from political parties. The fact almost half of Queensland voted early also played a pivotal role in shaping election night dynamics. Initial trends from election day ballots hinted at an unexpectedly close race.  However, as the pre-poll votes were gradually tallied, the trends began to shift and ultimately solidified the LNP’s path to a majority government.

Minor party reduced capacity

Despite significant anticipation around the Greens mounting a strong challenge to Labor across four key inner-city Brisbane seats, the expectations of a “Green wave” were not met. The Green’s vote share dropped, and they missed the mark in crucial seats like South Brisbane resulting in the party only retaining the seat of Maiwar.  This setback has renewed hope for major parties seeking to reclaim seats in the upcoming federal election next year.

Katter’s Australian Party (KAP), led by Robbie Katter, also entered the election with high hopes for significant gains. However, KAP’s numbers in the House have reduced after losing Mirani, a seat it picked-up after a One Nation defection only two months prior.

Despite this, Robbie Katter and his two members are expected to ensure the government remains accountable to North Queenslanders. Expect to see some pressure from KAP towards the new Townsville based members of parliament.

What’s next?

Although the LNP are now in power in Queensland, it’s essential to engage with all sides of the political divide. The Labor opposition, retaining 35 seats, is in a similar position as the LNP was over the past four years. Alongside the crossbench, they’ll play a key role in holding the government accountable. Political cycles shift, but maintaining strong relationships with key players across government, opposition and the cross bench will be invaluable.

New ministerial portfolio

Reach out to our Queensland team if you would like to discuss the new Queensland Government and what it means for you.

Jamin Smith, Partner and Brisbane Office Head, SEC Newgate Communications – [email protected]

Max Dudley, Account Director, SEC Newgate Communications – [email protected]

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