Greek Australians add weight in Allan cabinet reshuffle with key portfolios

Victoria’s furniture reshuffle has ensconced two Greek Australian ministers, with Steve Dimopoulos and Nick Staikos who are taking connected expanded and influential portfolios.

Staikos steps into the relation of Minister for Housing and the Suburban Rail Loop, replacing Harriet Shing. Premier Jacinta Allan said helium would beryllium “continuing with this vital project.”

Speaking to Neos Kosmos, Staikos emphasised the value of his caller responsibilities.

“There is thing much important than having a extortion implicit your head,” helium said.

“The cardinal contributor to quality dignity is having a extortion implicit your head, and I americium looking guardant to ensuring that we boost the supply of homes successful Victoria.”

Steve Dimopoulos expands his influence, adding the Economic Growth and Jobs portfolio to his responsibilities successful Sport and Major Events media. Dimopoulos astatine a property league adjacent to the Asian Elephants enclosure astatine the Werribee Open Range Zoo successful Melbourne. Photo: AAP/James Ross

Staikos said helium was “delighted to beryllium the curate for the Suburban Rail Loop – the largest nationalist transport task successful Australia which it will transform Victoria.”

“For the archetypal clip ever, there is dense obstruction to Australia’s largest university, Monash University, and that broader Monash precinct is the largest attraction of jobs and innovation successful Melbourne extracurricular of the CBD.”

Dimopoulos besides strengthens his power successful government, adding the large Economic Growth and Jobs portfolio to his existing responsibilities successful Sport and Major Events.

Announcing the change, Premier Jacinta Allan said Dimopoulos would “take up the mantle of Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs, successful summation to his work arsenic the Minister for Sport and Major Events”.

“A strong system means much jobs for Victorian workers and their families and so does sport and large events. He will proceed to guarantee Victoria remains a planetary leader.”

The reshuffle follows a wave of retirements up of the November state predetermination and introduces respective caller ministers and portfolio changes.

Harriet Shing moves to Health, besides taking connected ambulance services and water.

“She’ll bring caller ideas to nationalist health, backing our dedicated workforce, and will thrust our work making wellness attraction easier and cheaper for engaged families to access,” Allan said.

Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny adds Finance and Violence Reduction to her responsibilities, while Paul Edbrooke takes connected the recently created Cost of Living portfolio.

Nick Staikos steps into the relation of Minister for Housing and the Suburban Rail Loop, replacing Harriet Shing. Premier Jacinta Allan (L) said helium would beryllium “continuing with this vital project.” Photo: AAP/Jay Kogler

“The outgo of surviving is putting unit connected household budgets and household time,” Allan said.

“We’re making work from location a right, we’ve made nationalist transport escaped successful April arsenic a temporary measurement and we’re delivering much homes young radical tin spend adjacent trains and jobs.

“That’s why Paul Edbrooke will go the caller curate for outgo of surviving to proceed this important work.”

Edbrooke successful different media has acknowledged the standard of the challenge.

“I’m thinking astir however we tin use each accidental to squeeze arsenic hard arsenic we tin arsenic a authorities to marque beingness easier for Victorian families,” helium said.

Other appointments see Luba Grigorovitch arsenic Youth Minister, Paul Hamer successful Local Government, Youth Justice and Corrections, and Michaela Settle successful Regional Development and Agriculture.

The changes spot Natalie Suleyman take connected Tourism alongside her existing portfolios, Colin Brooks grip Industry, Advanced Manufacturing, Defence Industry and Skills and TAFE, and Gabrielle Williams go Minister for Women and Girls.

The reshuffle consolidates cardinal economic, infrastructure and κοινωνικά portfolios — with Victorian Greek Australian ministers present positioned astatine the centre of Victoria’s housing, transport and economical agenda.