Member for Oakleigh, Steve Dimopoulos, has been sworn in as Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, as well as Minister for Creative Industries, at Government House this afternoon.
The recent cabinet reshuffle by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews comes after Education Minister James Merlino, Health Minister Martin Foley, Police Minister Lisa Neville and Tourism Minister Martin Pakula, resigned on Friday.
Premier Andrews unveiled on Saturday the frontbench he will take to the November state elections and this included Mr Dimopoulos, Sonya Kilkenny, Lizzie Blandthorn, Harriet Shing and Colin Brooks.
Transport Infrastructure Minister, Jacinta Allan, will serve as Deputy Premier, becoming the second woman to hold the post in Victorian history.
Mr Dimopoulos has taken over Mr Pakula’s plum role, while Sonya Kilkenny steps into the position of minister for corrections, youth justice, victim support and fishing and boating.
Lizzie Blandthorn takes on the planning portfolio and role of the party’s lower house leader.
Harriet Shing will take on the portfolios of water, regional development and equality, and Colin Brooks will become child protection and family services minister and minister for disability, ageing and carers.
Nick Staikos MP has also been announced as the new Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier.
In a post on Twitter, Mr Staikos said he was looking forward “to working with the Premier in delivering our government’s progressive agenda.”
Despite the mass exodus of ministers, Premier Andrews said the cabinet reshuffle demonstrated the level of talent within his government’s ranks.
“The fact that we’ve been so swiftly able to replace them with such a talented line-up speaks to the depth of my team,” he said.
