CHIEF Minister Andrew Barr has facebooked his new Ministry:

Housing and Community Services are big starting portfolios for Yvette Berry and probably sensibly brought together. Multicultural Affairs split from arts will require some deep thinking about festivals however.

UPDATE: The Chief went on to make this statement:

Urban renewal, transport, equality and jobs on agenda with new portfolios

The new ministerial portfolios I announced today will support jobs and urban renewal and see us take a smarter approach to government.

It will be my job as Chief Minister to drive the development of our economy and as part of this; I will take on the new portfolio of Minister for Urban Renewal. This role will promote our garden suburbs and urban villages, bringing together infrastructure renewal with the promotion of social and cultural activity at a suburban level.

I am determined to make the best of modern suburban design, innovative policy and reformed taxes, not only to support dynamic and vibrant communities, but to keep the maximum downward pressure on the cost of housing- especially for private sector workers and middle and low-income earners.

I have created two new portfolios for Minister assisting the Chief Minister. Shane Rattenbury will assist with Transport Reform in the ACT and our newest Minister Yvette Berry will assist with Social Inclusion and Equality.

Mick Gentleman will take on the new portfolio of Minister for Roads and Parking. A key responsibility will be roads in growing areas of the city like Tuggeranong, Belconnen, Molonglo Valley and Gungahlin and taking a smarter approach to road works and parking. This includes high level coordination of road works and increased parking options, such as park and ride. All of this work is linked to the enhanced transport options I will be working on with Minister Rattenbury.

Ultimately this agenda is all about creating a city that supports jobs. It is about working with local communities and business on local renewal projects – such as the shop renewals at Lyons and Scullin and the revitalisation of Farrer, Waramanga, New Acton and Braddon. It is also about an innovative transport system that takes a coordinated approach to buses, light rail, taxis, bicycles and cars. If our city is easier to get around, it is easier to do business.

The Government will take every necessary decision to maintain economic activity, to encourage investment, and above all, to grow jobs.

This is the key to all our work: from education and health, to transport planning and urban renewal, and service provision and problem solving on a local scale.

UPDATE: For those not enamoured of Facebook this is the new Ministry:

Andrew Barr, Chief Minister

• Treasurer
• Minister for Economic Development
• Minister for Urban Renewal
• Minister for Tourism and Events
  

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  Simon Corbell, Deputy Chief Minister

• Attorney-General
• Minister for Health
• Minister for the Environment
• Minister for Capital Metro
  

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  Joy Burch

• Minister for Education and Training
• Minister for Police and Emergency Services
• Minister for Disability
• Minister for Racing and Gaming
• Minister for the Arts
  

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  Shane Rattenbury

• Minister for Territory and Municipal Services
• Minister for Justice
• Minister for Sport and Recreation
• Minister assisting the Chief Minister on Transport Reform
  

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  Mick Gentleman

• Minister for Planning
• Minister for Roads and Parking
• Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations
• Minister for Children and Young People
• Minister for Ageing
  

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  Yvette Berry

• Minister for Housing
• Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs
• Minister for Community Services
• Minister for Multicultural Affairs
• Minister for Women
• Minister assisting the Chief Minister on Social Inclusion and Equality.

UPDATE: Shane Rattenbury has shared his thoughts on the reshuffle and found some bright points in the “economy first” messaging:

ACT Greens MLA, Shane Rattenbury, has welcomed the new administrative arrangements and the focus on urban renewal and transport integration across our city, following the appointment of the new 6th Minister.

“I am pleased that the Chief Minister recognises the need to prioritise urban renewal and that quality transport is a key part of that,” said Mr Rattenbury.

“The ACT Greens have always had a strong vision for the integration of public transport across the city and I am excited to work closely with the Chief Minister on transport reform.

“This new position reflects the need for enhanced integration of transport, including sustainable and active transport such as light rail, buses and walking and cycling and will allow the government to explore new technologies and demand responsive transport options.

“Recognising that light rail will fundamentally change how people move across our city, we need plan ahead to ensure we have an integrated system accessible to all Canberrans.

“This reshuffle acknowledges the importance of transforming Canberra into modern, sustainable city for the future.

Mr Rattenbury also today thanked the Elected Body and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community for their hard work and collaboration over the past two years as the portfolio moves to the newest Minister appointed to government.

“I have been pleased to work closely with the Elected Body over the past two years, particularly on the Whole of Government Agreement and I look forward to seeing the outcome of that work in the coming weeks,” said Mr Rattenbury.

“I would like to thank the Elected Body for their passion, advice and their dedication.

“New Minister, Yvette Berry, will be taking over the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs portfolio and I trust that she will continue to work towards closing the gap and achieving better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Canberrans.

“Minister Berry will also be taking on the Housing portfolio, and I look forward to her continued advocacy both for public housing tenants in the ACT and the broader portfolio.

UPDATE: The Property Council have expressed their joy at the economic and development focus.

The Property Council of Australia welcomes the new ACT ministry, applauding the Chief Minister’s sharpened focus on urban development and housing affordability.

“We welcome the prioritisation of urban development in 2015, as Chief Minister Andrew Barr assumes responsibility for the new Urban Renewal portfolio,” says the Property Council’s ACT Executive Director, Catherine Carter.

“Industry looks forward to working with the newly-minted Minister Berry in the housing portfolio, and with Minister Rattenbury as he assumes responsibility for transport reform.

“The Chief Minister has said he is determined to drive innovative policy that supports vibrant communities and addresses the cost of housing in Canberra. The Property Council believes more land must be made available to the private sector to enable competition and choice, and ensure downward pressure on housing costs.

“Canberra must prioritise urban renewal in our town centres – and most particularly in Civic. The ambitions laid out in the ACT Government’s City Plan – to attract more residents to the city centre, to reduce through-traffic, improve connections across the city and to the lake, and create a modern built environment – are encouraging, but more work needs to be done. The new Ministry of Urban Renewal is a good start.

“Many of the most loved areas of Canberra are the result of private sector vision, energy and capital investment. We believe lighthouse public sector projects such as a convention centre, will act as incentives for further private sector investment.

“Canberra, with a single government overseeing state and local council responsibilities, innovative local businesses, and an intelligent, informed community, should be a dream jurisdiction for the built environment industry – but this is not always the case.

“We are optimistic that the new ministry presents an opportunity to address the pressing issues slowing down investment in urban renewal projects – including onerous red tape, taxes, fees and charges,” Ms Carter concludes.