Source:  Office of the Premier of Victoria, Hon Steve Bracks

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PREMIER

DATE: Wednesday, November 29, 2006

PREMIER ANNOUNCES REJUVENATED CABINET PORTFOLIOS

The Premier, Steve Bracks, today announced a major Cabinet reshuffle to drive the Government’s third term agenda and focus on the key areas of education, public transport, climate change and mental health.

Mr Bracks said the new look Cabinet portfolios reflected the Government’s commitment to rebuilding or modernising all public schools across Victoria, tackling the emerging problem of climate change and creating a skilled and competitive workforce.

“The Government has worked hard over the last seven years in rebuilding the health and education systems and these new portfolios acknowledge there is more work to be done,” Mr Bracks said.

Mr Bracks said Deputy Premier John Thwaites would take up a new super-portfolio of water, environment and climate change with an Office of Climate Change to be created within the Department of Premier and Cabinet and a new Office of Water to be established in the Department of Sustainability and Environment.

“Tackling climate change and making sure Victorians have a sustainable environment in the years ahead is a key priority of the Government,” Mr Bracks said.

“The Office for Climate Change will co-ordinate greenhouse policy across Government and focus on the longer term challenges for our State.”

Mr Bracks said education remained the Government’s number one priority and John Lenders as Education Minister and Jacinta Allan as Education Services Minister will oversee the largest post-war modernisation building program in our public schools.

“Every Victorian child deserves the best start in life and Minister Lenders is well skilled to take on this important portfolio to ensure our education system remains first-class,” he said.

“Minister Allan will also have a revamped skills portfolio with skills and training moving into the Industry Department.

Mr Bracks said improving the capacity of the public transport network and implementing the Government’s $10.5 billion Transport Action Plan Meeting our Transport Challenges was a key priority and the Transport portfolio would now be split into roads and public transport.

Lynne Kosky will take on responsibility for public transport while Tim Pallas will become the Minister for Roads and Ports.

Mr Bracks said Lisa Neville would become Victoria’s first Minister for Mental Health taking on responsibility for both drug and alcohol services and reflecting the importance of addressing the mental health issue in our community.

John Brumby will keep his portfolio responsibilities of Treasurer and Innovation but State and Regional Development will be split in two with Mr Brumby retaining responsibility for Regional and Rural Development.

Mr Bracks said there would also be a dedicated Minister for Planning with Justin Madden taking on the portfolio.

Mr Bracks said under other changes announced today a new Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Treatment Division would be created in the Department of Human Services and Film Victoria would move into the Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development.

Parliamentary Secretaries were also announced today with Evan Thornley taking on the newly created position as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier focusing on the National Reform Agenda.

Mr Bracks said the new members of the Expenditure Review Committee would be the Premier, Deputy Premier John Thwaites, Treasurer John Brumby, Minister for Finance Tim Holding, Minister for Health Bronwyn Pike, Minister for Public Transport Lynne Kosky and Minister for Education John Lenders.

Mr Bracks also announced other changes to Departments with the appointment of Lyndsay Neilson, former Secretary of Department of Sustainability and Environment, as a new Under-Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet focusing on the National Reform Agenda.

Peter Harris will move from the Department of Primary Industries to become the new Secretary of the Department of Sustainability and Environment while Richard Bolt will become the Secretary of the Department of Primary Industries.

Mr Bracks also announced today the departure of Helen Silver, Deputy Secretary of Department of Premier and Cabinet, to take a position in the private sector.