What we learned, 20 October 2024
With that we’re wrapping up the blog. Before we go, here are the major stories from Sunday:
King Charles and Queen Camilla have made their first appearance on their visit to Australia, attending a Sydney church;
The Queensland LNP has officially launched its election campaign, with the family of a stabbing victim helping to open the event;
The Queensland opposition leader promised to introduce mandatory isolation periods for children in youth detention if they assault guards;
In his first address since landing in Australia, King Charles praised democracy and the legacy of governmental process in a speech to NSW parliament;
Labor senator Murray Watt dismissed the federal Coalition’s proposal to remove housing efficiency regulations to speed up development as a “road to nowhere”.
Jane Hume has backed in Peter Dutton over an exchange with an ABC journalist where the leader of the opposition accused the ABC of being “activist”.
We’ll pick things up again tomorrow.
Updated
Tasmanian premier reshuffles cabinet after two ministerial resignations in one week
Tasmania’s government has promised to maintain the state’s momentum after reshuffling cabinet after the departure of two ministers in the space of a week.
The premier, Jeremy Rockliff, announced on Sunday the return of former minister Jacquie Petrusma and the addition of former Sorell mayor Kerry Vincent, in changes forced by the resignations of his deputy and then finance minister.
As the government approaches the 200-day mark since being elected … I am confident that the refreshed cabinet will keep Tasmania moving forward.
When asked during the announcement whether a reshuffle so early in a parliamentary term will mean certainty, Rockliff said: “It’s an indication that we’re getting on with the job.”
Petrusma will be given the health, veterans’ affairs and Aboriginal affairs portfolios, the latter of which she has previously held, while Vincent will become minister for infrastructure and local government.
Michael Ferguson resigned as deputy premier and treasurer on Monday as pressure mounted due to his oversight of delays and cost blowouts in the delivery of new $900m Spirit of Tasmania ferries.
The already unsteady minority government was rocked again on Friday when Nic Street said he would be leaving his ministerial position after facing mental health struggles. He was the minister for finance, local government, and sport and events.
The premier’s portfolio has been halved in the reshuffle, with the infrastructure portfolio given to Vincent and the small business and consumer affairs portfolio handed to Felix Ellis.
Guy Barnett, who took up the role of deputy premier the day after Ferguson resigned, adds treasurer to his job description while retaining the roles of attorney-general and justice minister.
The new fiscal portfolio could offer a significant challenge to the Treasurer after the state budget forecast net debt more than doubling to $8.6bn in 2027/28.
Asked about balancing the roles, Barnett told journalists he was “very confident” and does not “mind hard work”.
– AAP
Updated
