Simon Corbell loses planning portfolio to new minister Mick Gentleman

Simon Corbell loses the job, but has retained responsibility for the new tram line which has been carved off into its own ministry as part of Friday's cabinet reshuffle.

Mr Corbell, who has shown himself capable of leading big vision projects, is now Minister for Capital Metro. He retains the environment portfolio and the job of vastly increasing the use of renewable energy, including solar and wind, in Canberra.

Mr Corbell, who was carrying one of the biggest workloads also loses workplace safety and industrial relations, which also goes to Mr Gentleman, from Calwell.

Chief Minister Katy Gallagher named Mr Gentleman as her sixth minister last Saturday, signalling the need to build a profile in Tuggeranong, where the Liberals hold three of the five seats, and where the big push on inner north development is unlikely to play well.

Mr Gentleman gave nothing away on his first media appearance, refusing to give a view on the controversial call-in powers which allow planning ministers to "call in" and approve projects, bypassing normal planning rules. He said only that his style would be "consultative".

He got an early taste of the controversy that goes with planning on Friday, with the Uriarra residents, incensed at the solar farm being built beside the village, welcomed Mr Corbell's loss of the portfolio, saying he had a lot to answer for.

"We know that Mick [Gentleman] will do the best for his community, spokeswoman Jess Agnew said. "In light of this, we call on Minister Gentleman to reject the development application currently under consideration, and put this issue to bed."

Mr Gentleman also takes on responsibility for community services, previously with Treasurer Andrew Barr, and children, young people and ageing, previously with Joy Burch.

Ms Burch retains the arts, disability sector, education and training, and racing and gaming.

Greens Minister Shane Rattenbury also loses a contentious portfolio, with housing going to Mr Barr, a move Ms Gallagher said would bring together land development, housing supply and social housing under one umbrella.

Public housing will be the centre of major activity in the coming months and years as the government seeks to move tenants from the 472 public housing units in Northbourne Avenue to other parts of the city, probably including the Gungahlin fringe where they are still within walking distance of the new tram line. The "ABC" flats in Cooyong Street are also being demolished and redeveloped.

Ms Gallagher has taken charge of the unfolding asbetsos crisis.

Ms Gallagher rejected the suggestion Mr Corbell's loss of planning had anything to do with the controversy over his fast-track planning laws, which would have shielded big projects from normal planning and appeal laws which he attempted to push through the assembly in a hurry in March before a community backlash saw them abandoned.

Ms Gallagher said she took responsibility. "If anyone's to blame for that law it's me," she said, describing the reshuffle as not about winners and losers but simply sharing the tasks among a bigger ministry.

Mr Corbell said he had asked Ms Gallagher to give him more opportunity to focus on environment and light rail in the reshuffle.

Liberal Deputy Leader Alistair Coe said Belconnen had been ignored, with no ministers from the electorate. Four of the Gallagher ministers, including Ms Gallagher herself, are from the central electorate, Molonglo, and two from Tuggeranong.

“It is very sad that Belconnen and Gungahlin will not have its voice heard at the cabinet table where decisions will be made that affect Canberra’s future,” Mr Coe said. “It seems ACT Labor is happy to take the votes of decent Canberrans living in the Ginninderra region but isn’t willing to give them adequate representation at the cabinet table.”