State politics update – November 2024

We’re underway! After what felt like a very long campaign, the 58th Parliament of Queensland and the Crisafulli LNP Government have been sworn in. We finished November with the first sitting of the new parliament and the introduction of the LNP’s Safer Community Laws. The Premier is determined to have these laws passed by Christmas.

The LNP victory in October kicked off a month of ceremonial gatherings and the transition to government. The machinery of government has been restructured to align with the government’s priorities and approach to governance, though the changes have been relatively minor. Central agencies such as Premier and Cabinet and Treasury remain largely unchanged, and the major service departments of Health and Education are essentially as they were before the election.

Over the past month, visits to the Governor and 19-gun salutes have all been covered by the media. But of particular interest to corporate Queensland is the establishment and staffing of ministerial offices.

More than 200 people are required to staff ministerial offices across the government, and unlike the ALP, the LNP doesn’t have the union movement from which to draw staff. In fact, a month after the election, many ministerial offices are still in the process of securing a full complement of staff. The upside, of course, is that many of the new appointments are drawn from industry and other parts of the economy, bringing valuable expertise to the table.

The LNP has been in Opposition for a decade and has only been in government for one term at a time on two occasions in the last 35 years. As a result, the ranks of experienced, battle-hardened advisors are filled with a mix of veterans (like me) and talented young professionals. Like any organisation, corporate knowledge takes time and exposure to develop. The ALP’s long dominance of Queensland politics has made this a challenge for the LNP. You can study political philosophy at university, but navigating departmental power plays requires hands-on experience.

Fortunately, there are several wise and experienced figures now dotted across the government. Many of these individuals have spent the last four years inside the Crisafulli machine and are deeply familiar with what the Premier wants done and how he operates. This is not the first rodeo for Richard Ferrett (Premier), Nathan Ruhle (Deputy Premier), and Matt Tapsall (Treasurer). All three have ministerial experience and strong resumes in politics, policy, and corporate affairs.

There are also a number of experienced Chiefs of Staff drawn from the ranks of the most recent NSW Liberal government. For example, Mitchell Potts (Education) and Angus McCaffrey (Local Government and Water) know how to serve a minister while navigating the complexities of departmental politics.

On a personal note, I’m excited to see a group of very smart and competent young people—many of whom I’ve worked alongside in recent years—kickstart their political careers. They represent the future of the LNP, and if the party is to foster corporate knowledge and intergenerational government, it’s wise to invest in these young leaders.

At State Council in Rockhampton recently, the Premier outlined his government’s approach, promising it would be compassionate, calm, considered, and capable. While many appreciated the alliteration, it was clearly a message to multiple audiences. I’m sure it wasn’t lost on the 200 new ministerial staff and the business community across the state.