THE ACT Cabinet was reshuffled this morning with political newcomer Chris Bourke filling the five-month vacancy of fifth minister.

In an unanimous vote by the Labor caucus, Dr Bourke will take on the porfolios of Education and Training, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, and Corrections and Industrial Relations.

In the Chief Minister’s reshuffle,  Katy Gallagher will retain the Health portfolio but takes on Territory and Municipal Services. Deputy Chief Minister Andrew Barr holds Treasury, Economic Development, and Tourism, Sport and Recreation. Simon Corbell will remain Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and the Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development. Embattled minister Joy Burch adds Gaming and Racing to her portfolios of Community Services, Arts, Multicultural Affairs, Ageing and Women.

With only one more sitting week this year, Chief Minister Gallagher said the timing was really about what was right for the people of the ACT in terms of their Government providing services to them.

“Now the real work begins, with [Dr Bourke] taking on a very significant portfolio,” Chief Minister Katy Gallagher said.

Ms Gallagher described the five months since former Chief Minister Jon Stanhope’s retirement as “tough” on her cabinet, considering the “really big issues accross Government”.

“When the change happened back in May, it has always been very clear in my head that we need to do it and we needed to do it this side of Christmas,” she said.

“It was really about finding the right time and I think the time is right

“It has been a very heavy job for four [ministers], in a way, in the future, I’m sure, the goverment won’t settle for five but at the moment there’s going to be five ministers, that has weighed on my head but I think the time is right now.”

Dr Bourke said he was very pleased with the confidence his caucus colleagues has shown in electing him the fifth minister.

“I’ve seen what happens down in the Assembly and, yes, I am psychological prepared for the kinds of stuff that is going to be thrown at me by the Opposition which, from someone who’s come from not working in this place, is astonishing,” Dr Bourke said.

“There’s always more to learn, that’s what’s going to be one of the great things about being minister is learning and examining new ideas, being briefed by the departments and directorates and actually knowing what is to be done.”