Qld: New ministers to be sworn in today

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-1999
Qld: New ministers to be sworn in today

BRISBANE, Dec 16 AAP - The Queensland Labor Caucus today will select a new minister
to fill the vacancy left by the surprise resignation of Sport, Racing and Tourism Minister
Bob Gibbs.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Premier Stephen Robertson, the member for Sunnybank,
is widely tipped to move to Premier Peter Beattie's front bench and take over emergency
services from Merri Rose, promoted in a minor Cabinet reshuffle yesterday.

In the process, Mr Beattie carved up Mr Gibbs' vacant portfolio to boost the profile
of the tourism industry.

The sport portfolio was given to senior minister and sports fanatic Terry Mackenroth
while the high-profile tourism and racing were handed to Ms Rose.

Mr Beattie said the reshuffle made only minor adjustments to his team, sharpening the
government's edge.

He praised Ms Rose's performance in the emergency services portfolio and said she was
up to the task of overseeing the "crucially important" tourism job.

The reshuffle has been welcomed by the tourism and racing industries, but condemned
by the state opposition as a missed opportunity to dump dud ministers.

Under the shakeup, the portfolio of rural communities is removed from Mr Mackenroth
and handed to Primary Industries Minister Henry Palaszczuk.

Mr Beattie's portfolio also expands, with the premier assuming personal responsibility
for the 2001 Goodwill Games and the Queensland Events Corporation.

The new ministers will be sworn in at 3pm (AEDT) today.

AAP jfs/apm

KEYWORD: RESHUFFLE QLD DAYLEAD

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