Liberal National Party leader David Crisafulli has announced his new shadow cabinet, saying the next election will be fought on the economy.

November 15, 2020

The Queensland Liberal National Party has revealed its new shadow cabinet with leader David Crisafulli saying the next election will be fought on the economy.

Mr Crisafulli said his new team would focus on building its economic credentials while holding the Palaszczuk Labor government to account.

“When I became the leader of the opposition, I said I would assemble a team of some of the best economic minds in the parliament,” he told reporters on Sunday.

The LNP has split the finance and treasury portfolios with new deputy leader David Janetzki appointed the shadow treasurer and shadow minister for investment and trade.

Jarrod Bleijie is the new shadow minister for finance and industrial relations, and manager of opposition business.

“It enables the shadow treasurer to chart our economic future. It enables the shadow finance minister to hold the government to account on its expenditure,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“We are serious about charting a strong vision ahead of 2024.”

Two shadow ministers have also been appointed to the new portfolios of integrity in government and open data.

“That’s about openness and transparency and that is the government we will be (if elected) in 2024,” Mr Crisafulli said.

Fiona Simpson will pick up the integrity portfolio along with state development and planning.

The open data and employment, small business and training portfolios will go to Brent Mickelberg.

Ros Bates takes on health, ambulance services and medical research, along with the shadow ministry for women.

Steven Minnikin is the new shadow transport minister and Dale Last picks up police, corrective services, rural and regional affairs and fire and emergency services.

Tim Nicholls is the new shadow attorney-general and Christian Rowan has been appointed shadow minister for education and the arts.

Former leader Deb Frecklington takes on water and the construction of dams, along with regional development and manufacturing.

Former deputy leader Tim Mander becomes shadow minister for housing and public works.

Mr Crisafulli was elected unopposed as opposition leader and Mr Janetzki saw off three other contenders to become deputy after an LNP partyroom ballot on Thursday.

The pair take over from Mr Frecklington and Mr Mander, who resigned after last month’s election in which the opposition suffered a net loss of two or three seats with counting ongoing.

Labor is on track to hold 51 or potentially 52 seats – four more than they had before the election – while the LNP could end up with 35, a net loss of two seats.

The government claimed the LNP seats of Bundaberg and Nicklin where they are leading by just 79 and 11 votes, respectively, on Wednesday night.

However, the Electoral Commission of Queensland said it would recount the votes in both seats.