Bligh announces new Qld ICT minister

As part of a major reshuffle of her cabinet, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has appointed Simon Finn as the new minister for ICT following the resignation of Robert Schwarten last week.

Finn, the MP for Yeerongpilly since 2004, was promoted from parliamentary secretary for industrial relations to the minister for government services, building industry and ICT in a cabinet reshuffle announced by the premier this morning.

After a year of controversy surrounding shared ICT services in the state, Schwarten announced his intent to step down from the ICT ministry he has held for four and a half years in Queensland Parliament on Thursday, stating he would also not be standing for re-election in 2012.

In a statement, Bligh said the focus of the reshuffle was to put the government in the right position to begin recovery from Tropical Cyclone Yasi and the Queensland floods.

"This is the right team and the right mix of portfolio responsibilities to get Queensland through this massive job of rebuilding and recovery," she said. "My message to the new Cabinet is clear: we each have two priorities this year — rebuilding and delivering."