Tasmania’s Premier Jeremy Rockliff has today handed over the health portfolio amid a ‘small cabinet roll reshuffle’.
Rockliff says he will ‘take on different responsibilities’, but will retain the portfolio of mental health and wellbeing.
“This handover will enable me to take an even greater interest in driving Tasmania’s economic growth and creating more jobs for Tasmanians,” Rockliff said.
“The decision to hand over health is one that I have not taken lightly, but I do so knowing that our health system is in the best place it’s been for a long time, despite increasing demand.”
Opposition Labor MP Dean Winter compared the announcement to the sinking of the Titanic.
“There has never been a greater example of a Tasmanian Government rearranging the deckchairs before the ship goes down,” Winter said.
“Only five days ago Premier Jeremy Rockliff said there was no substance to “rumours” he would relinquish the health portfolio that he was so proud to retain when he took the top job.”
Further announcements on cabinet changes are expected to be made in the coming days.
Rockliff said while he “won’t be changing the people” within Cabinet, some ‘small changes’ will be made to the roles they are doing.
