Queensland’s new-look cabinet will be sworn in at Government House after a significant reshuffle of key positions in the face of mounting political pressure and falling voter approval.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will unveil her new team on May 18, and Governor Jeannette Young will swear in the new ministers at 11 am.
At least four ministers are expected to be removed from their portfolios after months of sustained criticism of the health, housing and youth justice portfolios.
Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman is poised to take on the troubled health portfolio with D'Ath to return to her previously held attorney-general role.
Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard and Housing Minister Leeanne Enoch face demotion under the changes, which don’t include any new faces across Palaszczuk’s front bench.
Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon will reportedly be moved to housing to tackle the state’s growing accommodation crisis.
Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer is rumoured to have been tapped to take on youth justice.
Cabinet ministers came out to defend D'Ath on May 17, with Police Minister Mark Ryan praising her “great work” in what he conceded was a difficult portfolio.
“Health is one of the hardest portfolios - it’s relentless,” Ryan said.
“(D'Ath) has done a lot of good work in very difficult times. Remember, she was a health minister during COVID.
“There’s lots of pressure on public health systems worldwide. She’s done a great job.”
The reshuffle comes after a recent poll showed voter support for the Palaszczuk government is falling.
Support for Palaszczuk declined by seven percentage points to 31 per cent - her worst approval rating since she first became premier in 2015.
Labor’s primary vote was 33 percent against the LNP on 39 per cent in April, the poll published in the Courier-Mail showed.
