Second Barr Ministry
The Second Barr Ministry is the 14th ministry of the Government of the Australian Capital Territory, and is led by Labor Chief Minister Andrew Barr and his deputy Yvette Berry. It was appointed on 1 November 2016, following the 2016 general election held two weeks earlier.[1][2] Greens signed a new formal Parliamentary Agreement with Labor which continued to maintain Green's leader Shane Rattenbury's position in the Ministry, whilst mandating that the Greens not move or support any motion of no confidence in the Labor Government, except in instances of gross misconduct or corruption.[3][4][5]
The previous First Barr Ministry initially contained five ministers, but was later increased to seven ministers. The number was not increased in the second ministry after the 2016 general election, even when eight more members were elected to form an expanded 25 member Legislative Assembly. The ministry was subsequently increased to eight ministers in August 2018.
As of November 2019, the third arrangement of the Ministry formed on 26 August 2019 is the incumbent ministry of the ACT Government.
First Arrangement
Following Labor's re-election at the 2016 general election, a new ministry was appointed on 1 November 2016.[2] Gordon Ramsay and Rachel Stephen-Smith were new ministers appointed to the ministry, replacing Simon Corbell who retired and Chris Bourke who was defeated at the 2016 election.[1]
Portfolio | Minister | Party affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
|
Andrew Barr MLA | Labor | |
|
Yvette Berry MLA | Labor | |
|
Meegan Fitzharris MLA | Labor | |
|
Mick Gentleman MLA | Labor | |
|
Gordon Ramsay MLA | Labor | |
|
Shane Rattenbury MLA | Greens | |
|
Rachel Stephen-Smith MLA | Labor | |
Subsequent changes to ministerial titles
There are two changes to ministerial titles between November 2016 and August 2018:
- 19 December 2016: Minister for Justice and Consumer Affairs was renamed Minister for Justice, Consumer Affairs and Road Safety (held by Shane Rattenbury)[6]
- 1 July 2017: Minister for Health was renamed Minister for Health and Wellbeing (held by Meegan Fitzharris)[7]
Second Arrangement
On 27 August 2018, Chris Steel was appointed to the Ministry, increasing the Ministry size to 8.[8][9]
Portfolio | Minister | Party affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
|
Andrew Barr MLA | Labor | |
|
Yvette Berry MLA | Labor | |
|
Meegan Fitzharris MLA | Labor | |
|
Mick Gentleman MLA | Labor | |
|
Gordon Ramsay MLA | Labor | |
|
Shane Rattenbury MLA | Greens | |
|
Rachel Stephen-Smith MLA | Labor | |
|
Chris Steel MLA | Labor |
Fitzharris resignation
On 24 June 2019, Meegan Fitzharris announced she would resign from her cabinet roles (Transport, Health and Tertiary Education) on 1 July and politics for family reasons.[10] In the interim until an additional new minister is appointed to the Ministry, Chris Steel took on the transport portfolio as the Transport Minister, Rachel Stephen-Smith took on the health portfolio as the Health Minister and Chief Minister Andrew Barr took on the tertiary education portfolio, all with effect from 27 June 2019.[11][12] Gordon Ramsay took over as Minister for Government Services and Procurement from Stephen-Smith. There is no replacement for the Minister for Vocational Education and Skills.
The following only includes ministers whose portfolios have changed on 27 June 2019. The interim arrangement lasted till 25 August 2019.
Portfolio | Minister | Party affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
|
Andrew Barr MLA | Labor | |
|
Gordon Ramsay MLA | Labor | |
|
Rachel Stephen-Smith MLA | Labor | |
|
Chris Steel MLA | Labor |
Third Arrangement
Following the interim arrangement as a result of the resignation of Meegan Fitzharris from the Ministry, a new arrangement was formed on 26 August 2019 with Suzanne Orr appointed to the Ministry.[13][14] As of November 2019, the arrangement is the current ministerial arrangement in the ACT Government.
Portfolio | Minister | Party affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
|
Andrew Barr MLA | Labor | |
|
Yvette Berry MLA | Labor | |
|
Mick Gentleman MLA | Labor | |
|
Rachel Stephen-Smith MLA | Labor | |
|
Gordon Ramsay MLA | Labor | |
|
Chris Steel MLA | Labor | |
|
Shane Rattenbury MLA | Greens | |
|
Suzanne Orr MLA | Labor |
References
- New Ministerial team to focus on progressive economic and social agenda, Chief Minister media release, 31 October 2016, accessed 3 November 2016
- "Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Ministerial Appointment 2016 (No 3)" (PDF).
- "Parliamentary Agreement for the 9th Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory" (PDF). Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 March 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- "Labor and Greens hammer out deal to see Shane Rattenbury in Cabinet, Joy Burch as Speaker". Canberra Times. 30 October 2016.
- "Full Text of the Parliamentary Agreement for the 9th Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory". ABC News. 30 October 2016.
- "Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Ministerial Appointment 2016 (No 4)" (PDF).
- "Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Ministerial Appointment 2017 (No 1)" (PDF).
- "Labor backbencher Chris Steel named new ACT minister". Canberra Times. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- "Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Ministerial Appointment 2018 (No 1)" (PDF).
- "ACT Minister Meegan Fitzharris to quit politics". Canberra Times. 26 June 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
- "New ACT health and transport ministers announced". Canberra Times. 26 June 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
- "Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Ministerial Appointment 2019 (No 1)" (PDF).
- "Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Ministerial Appointment 2019 (No 2)" (PDF).
- "ACT government ministerial reshuffle: Suzanne Orr takes on employment, disabilities". Canberra Times. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
Preceded by First Barr Ministry |
Second Barr Ministry 2016-present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |