Former Queensland premier Peter Beattie has come to the defence of embattled minister Stirling Hinchliffe and has backed him to keep his portfolios of transport and the Commonwealth Games.
Mr Beattie, the chairman of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation, said he expected Mr Hinchliffe to ride out the political pressure brought forward by the Queensland Rail timetabling debacle.
More News Videos
Rail debacle costing $1m a fortnight
Queensland Rail had a "fundamental failure of management" in not preparing for a driver shortage. 7 News Queensland
The bungle, which has seen hundreds of services cancelled, has already claimed the scalps of QR's chairman and chief executive.
Mr Beattie said GOLDOC worked well with Mr Hinchliffe and he hoped he would remain in both roles.
"He's done a really good job on the Commonwealth Games in terms of transport and all other issues and, frankly, I'm hoping he'll stay," he said.
"It's none of my business, but I'm hoping he'll stay."
At the announcement of the Commonwealth Games ticket pricing structure, Mr Beattie said GOLDOC had worked through a transport plan for the Games with Mr Hinchliffe, which would be released on November 30.
"We've worked very closely with Stirling on this and the issues in relation to trains outside the Games is not a matter for me other than that we enjoy a good relationship with the minister, who's done an excellent job in working with GOLDOC," he said.
![Commonwealth Games Minister Stirling Hinchliffe, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and GOLDOC chairman Peter Beattie ...](/web/20161107114914im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/j/1/2/g/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gsj13q.png/1478464729425.jpg)
Mr Beattie said he was confident Mr Hinchliffe would still have his job by the end of the week and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk appeared to back that up.
"Stirling Hinchliffe is a senior cabinet minister in my government," she said.
![Former Queensland premier Peter Beattie has backed Mr Hinchliffe to keep his job.](/web/20161107114914im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/u/r/i/2/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gsj13q.png/1478464729425.jpg)
"In relation to the Commonwealth Games, you've just heard what the chair of GOLDOC has had to say, so let me reiterate.
"I don't think it would send a very good message to our other Commonwealth countries, or the international federation, if there was a change made to the Commonwealth Games minister."
When it was pointed out that Mr Hinchliffe had replaced Kate Jones in the role less than a year ago, Ms Palaszczuk said: "They wouldn't like another change so close out."
For his part, Mr Hinchliffe said he remained confident he could fulfill the responsibilities of both his portfolios, amid suggestions his workload could be lessened.
"I'm absolutely confident that I am able to do the job that the Premier has asked me to do," he said.
"I'll continue to do that and, with 514 days until the 2018 Commonwealth Games, it's very important that we are delivering, like we are today, on the key announcements and outcomes that will deliver a strong and successful Games."
Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls said it was clear Mr Hinchliffe could no longer juggle his transport and Commonwealth Games responsibilities.
"We're seeing someone who says he's 100 per cent dedicated to trying to fix up the train mess he's presided over and still having the confidence of the Premier to deliver the Commonwealth Games," he said.
"If he's 100 per cent dealing with the train crisis, how can he be doing anything with the Commonwealth Games?"
After a disastrous week for her government, Ms Palaszczuk said she had convened a special cabinet meeting for Friday, November 19, to refocus the government's efforts.
"(The meeting will be) dedicated to pulling together all of the key projects that we need to be delivering on by the end of the year," she said.
"Next week, we will have a number of key announcements for the people of Queensland in relation to job-generating projects, not just concentrated on the south-east, but across all of Queensland including an extra regional boost for regional Queensland.
"That's what I want all of my ministers concentrating on, that is what I want my government delivering on and that is exactly what we will deliver to the people of Queensland."
But after a week dominated by Mr Hinchliffe's woes and the resignation of agriculture minister Leanne Donaldson over unpaid bills, the Premier conceded her government had had a rough time.
"We have to work harder," she said.
"We have to continue to earn the respect of the people of Queensland and that is exactly what I intend to do as premier of this state."
Ms Palaszczuk said Ms Donaldson's future in State Parliament would be a matter for the voters in her electorate of Bundaberg.
For independent news coverage, be sure to follow our Facebook feed.
10 comments
New User? Sign up