Cabinet reshuffle a 'vote of confidence' or missed opportunity? Depends on who you ask

Chief Minister Andrew Barr is confident his cabinet re-shuffle is exactly what’s needed ahead of the 2024 election, while the ACT Greens said the ministerial changes were a “clear vote of confidence” in their party and their role in government.

“The addition of Parks and Conservation to the Environment portfolio of Rebecca Vassarotti is a positive reform that will enable a more comprehensive and cohesive approach to addressing environmental issues in the ACT,” a spokesperson said.

Much was made of Emma Davidson’s new portfolio of Population Health, which will focus on improving health outcomes for the community from both physical and mental well-being perspectives.

It includes preventative health, alcohol and other drugs programs, blood-borne viruses and e-cigarettes.

“Emma is positioned to further her advocacy in the Community Services sector, with the new title of Minister for Community Services, Seniors and Veterans. This portfolio maintains Emma’s responsibilities around carers and volunteers, and adds community sector reform,” the spokesperson said.

“Assuming responsibility for Corrections alongside Justice Health places Emma in a better position to deliver a genuinely restorative justice system.”

Her loss of the disability platform was a sore point for the party. The spokesperson said Ms Davidson was “disappointed” she had to handover that responsibility in the wake of the NDIS review.

“The Greens are committed to changing systems and attitudes so that people with disability are not limited by their society and physical environments,” they said.

The Canberra Liberals – not surprisingly – have taken a different view to the changes, labelling the moves a missed opportunity to “address the failings” of ministers across Mr Barr’s cabinet.

Leader Elizabeth Lee ridiculed the responsibilities given to Emma Davidson and Chris Steel, labelling them “incompetent”, “underperforming” ministers.

“Chris Steel, who has presided over the mismanagement and waste of hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ dollars, has now been given planning at a time when the planning system is undergoing a significant overhaul,” she said.

“The fact that Andrew Barr has kept Emma Davidson in any portfolio at all following a number of failings in Mental Health, let alone giving her additional responsibilities, is astounding.”

What she found most alarming was the reallocation of Mick Gentleman’s responsibilities.

“The most concerning part of this reshuffle is that Mick Gentleman, who is notoriously anti-business, has been given the business portfolio, which should ring alarm bells for our business community,” she said.

While ministerial shuffles aren’t common in the ACT, Mr Barr said the time was right to re-energise the team and ensure workloads were balanced.

He rejected the idea Mr Gentleman’s changes reflected a loss of confidence in his ability.

“Mick is a very experienced minister for emergency services, and noting we are in storm season and coming into bushfire season, it was particularly important that this be his number one focus over the summer period,” Mr Barr said.

“In the New Year, I’m particularly keen for him to work in the business portfolio, combining with his industrial relations responsibilities, to ensure that a range of important work and protections are implemented and managed well with business in the ACT.”

Mr Gentleman also lost corrections, which has gone to Emma Davidson.

Mr Barr said aligning justice health services with corrections and having a single minister responsible for the area was important.

As for Ms Davidson losing the disability portfolio, Mr Barr said it was about ensuring everyone’s workload was balanced so they could deliver the best results.

“That’s what I’ve tried to do here, to refresh particular portfolio areas that are priorities and ensure ministers can work well together with a team focus on particular outcomes,” he said.

He rejected the notion that Ms Davidson’s disability responsibilities had been taken away because she had been outspoken about suggested changes for the NDIS.

“Rather than have four ministers working on [NDIS reforms], I’ve sought to consolidate that to a team of three – myself, the Deputy Chief Minister and Minister Stephen-Smith,” Mr Barr said.

“But again, in balancing workload, there are responsibilities in community services that have moved from Minister Stephen-Smith to Minister Davidson, and some that have moved the other way.”