The problem with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s Cabinet reshuffle is it only has one step. Any observer would rightly ask: Ok, great. What’s next?
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Sacrificing ministerial positions to make a point is fair enough in politics, it’s a tough gig, but it’s not enough. We are no further ahead, nothing has been resolved.
We saw that with the Coalition Government federally when it chopped and changed Prime Ministers. We ended up with Scott Morrison which was not a good outcome for anyone in retrospect.
So, here we are after the George St shuffle and Health is still a diabolical mess, just with a different figurehead. Where to, now?
Well, Shannon Fentiman may be smart but she can’t whip up a solution to the Gladstone maternity ward, waiting lists and ambulance ramping before the next election unless she has a lot of money and a plan.
Fortunately, Palaszczuk has a cash cow: coal royalties, the gift that keeps on giving for the Queensland Treasury.
Estimates from the mining industry put the revenue from last year’s coal royalty hike at $13 billion. That’s about $8 billion more than the Treasury originally anticipated.
One thing this Government does well is to plan a solution while still getting whacked around the head every day so when the Budget comes out next month a fair portion of that $13 billion should be heading towards Health and juvenile crime.
Fentiman probably had little choice in taking the role but it’s a fair bet she would have asked what else Palaszczuk planned to do to fix the crisis.
Using the coal money would not only help resolve the health issue but also nullify the mining industry’s nagging advertising campaign against the royalties hike.
No one would quibble about using coal’s misfortune to solve a health crisis, particularly if the regions benefitted.
If it’s done well it would also have the effect of cushioning the blows from the Opposition on the issue until the next crisis emerged because with this Government, that’s a certainty.
Of course, the positioning of Fentiman in the health portfolio has risk and rewards for Palaszczuk and leadership. Giving the portfolio of health to left-faction-aligned Fentiman could end her climb up the ladder. Currently number two behind Deputy Premier Steven Miles, Fentiman runs the risk of losing leadership credibility if she botches Health.
A politician I dealt with quite a bit lamented to me when he was given the portfolio that he felt like he had been made the Minister for Northern Ireland, a reference to UK where that job meant the death of many leadership aspirations.
Both Miles and Palaszczuk win if Fentiman struggles. If she succeeds, it’s game over.
The new housing minister, Meaghan Scanlon, now has a portfolio with some grit and pressure to perform.
As the youngest member of Cabinet she has a lot to prove, but time is on her side. This could be her proving ground.
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