The Chief Minister, Ms Katy Gallagher MLA, today announced new Ministerial Arrangements for the ACT Government following her election as Chief Minister by the Legislative Assembly. The Chief Minister will continue to hold the Health, Treasury and Industrial Relations Portfolios. Mr Andrew Barr MLA has been appointed Deputy Chief Minister, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, and Minister for Education and Training. The Chief Minister also stated that following the passage of the 2011-12 Budget through the Assembly, the Treasury portfolio will be transferred to the Deputy Chief Minister. Mr Simon Corbell MLA has been appointed Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development and Minister for Territory and Municipal Services. Ms Joy Burch MLA has been appointed Minister for Community Services, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Women, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and Minister for the Arts.

The Ministerial Portfolio allocations represent the next step towards implementing the single ACT Public Service Agency structure: in addition to making these Ministerial Appointments, the Chief Minister has made new Administrative Arrangements that see the creation of nine Directorates:

• Chief Minister and Cabinet
• Treasury
• Community Services
• Economic Development
• Education and Training
• Environment and Sustainable Development
• Health
• Justice and Community Safety
• Territory and Municipal Services

Subject to necessary amendments to reflect the fact that, for the time being, the Cabinet will comprise only four ministers, the appointments made today align with the accepted recommendations made by Dr Allan Hawke AC in Governing the City State: One ACT Government – One ACT Public Service. Each Directorate will report to only one Minister. The most significant changes relate to the establishment of the Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate, and the Economic Development Directorate. The Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate will bring together what have been disparate agencies, or parts of agencies, involved in the land planning and development sphere including the ACT Planning and Land Authority, transport planning, alongside responsibility for the environment, and climate change and energy policy. The Economic Development Directorate will bring together elements of the ACT Public Service responsible for working with the business community in relation to economic development and business support programs, the design and delivery of the government's land release program, tourism and events and sport and recreation. The transition to the single agency will be completed following passage of the Public Sector Management (One ACT Public Service) Amendment Bill 2011 that is currently before the Legislative Assembly. The appointments announced today are transitional, reflecting the necessity to not disrupt hearings by the Select Committee on Estimates, and for processes under the Electoral Act 1992 to be followed subsequent to the resignation of Mr Jon Stanhope.