A reallocation of portfolio responsibilities is underway in the ACT Government after Brindabella MLA Mick Gentleman was elevated to the ministry on Saturday.
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Chief Minister Katy Gallagher used her speech to the party’s annual conference in Woden to announce Mr Gentleman had been elected at a special caucus meeting. He will become the territory’s sixth minister.
Congratulating the 58-year-old from Tuggeranong, Ms Gallagher said all members of her ministry would see changes to their portfolio responsibilities.
An announcement on the reorganised ministry will be made next week, but Ms Gallagher declined to characterise any broader reshuffle as major.
“I know in my head how it is looking but there are still a few minor portfolios that I’ve got to allocate,” she said.
“Obviously [Mr Gentleman] will get what he gets, that’s the leader’s prerogative, and being the new minister I’d like to consult with him and just finalise those arrangements.”
Ms Gallagher told delegates her government had reached the halfway point of its term and said she would deliver a balanced ministry with reasonable workloads.
“I think it is very important every minister has something they have a keen interest in because I think it brings an enthusiasm and energy that pays off in the end,” she said.
Mr Gentleman beat fellow backbenchers Yvette Berry and Chris Bourke for the role, after Mary Porter ruled herself out of consideration this month.
A former Department of Foreign Affairs bureaucrat, he also worked as a security officer in the offices of prime ministers Bob Hawke and Paul Keating.
Aligned with Ms Gallagher and Attorney-General Simon Corbell in Labor’s left, Mr Gentleman was first elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly in 2004.
The father-of-three served one term and was elected again in 2012 after working as director of the ACT Motor Trades Association.
He has served as assistant speaker and government whip and charied two committees on planning and environment and Territory and Municipal Services.
“I am humbled by being elected by such a experienced and hard-working group. I look forward to serving in the ministry for a progressive Labor government in the ACT.”
Mr Gentleman declined to say which portfolio areas he was interested in.
“That will be a discussion that the Chief and I will have,” he said.
An extra ministerial suite is being added to the Assembly's second-floor executive level, combining vacant office space and Ms Gallagher's private reception room.
The territory's Assembly is set to expand to 25 MLAs after the next election, due in 2016.