Queensland treasurer Jackie Trad quits cabinet as scandal probe expands
Annastacia Palaszczuk with Jackie Trad before the deputy premier's career hit the rocks in a fog of scandal. Photo: AAP
Queensland Deputy Premier and Treasurer Jackie Trad has resigned from her ministerial duties, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says.
Yesterday, Ms Trad announced she was standing aside from her ministerial duties during an investigation launched by the state’s corruption watchdog.
Sunday’s announcement takes it a major step further and banishes the embattled former minister from Cabinet for the foreseeable future.
Health Minister Steven Miles will take over as deputy premier. Cameron Dick has been announced as the new treasurer and Kate Jones will be minister for state development.
The Premier said this would be the Queensland leadership team going into the upcoming state election.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s team has undergone a pre-election emergency reshuffle. Photo: AAP
Ms Trad said the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) informed her on Friday afternoon that it would investigate the recruitment and selection process for the principal of the new Inner City South Secondary College, in Brisbane’s Dutton Park.
“Today, Jackie Trad has resigned from her ministerial portfolio responsibilities,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“She has made her decision in the best interests of her family, the community and the [Queensland Labor] party.
“She does not want there to be any distraction for the Government as we respond to the COVID crisis. I really want to thank her.”
Ms Palaszczuk said she had moved “swiftly and decisively” to decide on the new leadership team.
“I want to reassure Queenslanders that these are permanent appointments.
“Queenslanders expect myself and my team to deal with the health and economic crisis that we have before us and that is absolutely my intention,” she said.
Mr Miles said his appointment to deputy premier was “a great honour”.
“This year I have lived and breathed the response to the COVID-19 pandemic — nothing’s changed,” he said.
“It is an honour for me to continue to lead our health workers throughout that response.”
Chaos and confusion in the @AnnastaciaMP @QLDLabor Government. A complete upheaval of economic portfolios in an economic crisis. Queensland deserves better than this rabble. The Premier is weak and should have sacked dodgy @jackietrad months ago. #qldpol #auspol
— Deb Frecklington MP (@DebFrecklington) May 10, 2020
The Premier would not be drawn on the potential damage caused to the Government being forced to appoint a new treasurer during the coronavirus pandemic — an equal health and economic crisis.
“We will be 100 per cent focused on getting people back into work,” she said.
“Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their jobs and they want certainty from their government.
“And they want to make sure that the Government is focused on them.”
The Government has not been able to say whether it will deliver a full budget ahead of the state election on October 31.
Deputy Opposition Leader Tim Mander said Queenslanders deserved an open look at the books.
“If Cameron Dick was going to be a good Treasurer for the future, today he would have guaranteed that there’d be a budget delivered before the next election,” he said.
Budget when?
Mr Dick, who had been serving as the State Development Minister, said he was “delighted” by the new role.
“Central to my vision as Queensland’s treasurer will be putting Queensland back to work,” he said.
“It’s my responsibility as treasurer to … see that the removal of [coronavirus-related] restrictions is married with the opening of business.”
Ms Jones thanked the Premier for appointing her as state development minister “at such a crucial time of rebuilding for Queensland”.
–ABC