Government Champions

The Queensland Government is committed to increasing the capability of government to deliver innovative, efficient, effective and integrated services for Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people across Queensland, particularly to those who live in remote and discrete Indigenous communities. The champions program brings together CEOs of departments and government ministers to partner with individual communities.

The Government Champion program provides an opportunity for Chief Executives of Queensland Government agencies to work together with identified communities towards improving life outcomes for Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people, in a collaborative partnership.

In a complementary program, Queensland Ministers will act as individual champions for discrete Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Under the Ministerial Government Champion’s program, ministers work closely with mayors and community leaders from their partner community to engage more effectively with Cabinet on the opportunities and challenges facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Ministerial and Government Champions 2024

CommunityMinisterial ChampionGovernment Champion
All communities

Honourable Dr Steven Miles MP
Premier

Honourable Leeanne Enoch MP
Minister for Treaty
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
Minister for Communities, and
Minister for the Arts

Steve Gollschewski
Commissioner
Queensland Police Service

Paul Stewart
Commissioner
Queensland Corrective Services

Clare O’Connor
Director-General
Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts
Aurukun

Honourable Di Farmer MP
Minister for Education, and
Minister for Youth Justice

Steven Koch
A/Director General
Department of Employment, Small Business and Training

Assisted by Peter McKay
Deputy Director-General
Office of Industrial Relations
Cherbourg

Honourable Bart Mellish MP
Minister for Transport and Main Roads, and
Minister for Digital Services

Assisted by Julieanne Gilbert MP
Assistant Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Industrial Relations and Racing		 Jasmina Joldic PSM
Director-General
Department of Justice and Attorney-General
Coen

Honourable Cameron Dick MP
Deputy Premier
Treasurer, and
Minister for Trade and Investment

Assisted by Jennifer Howard MP
Assistant Minister for Treasury, Trade and Investment

 Stephen Smith
Acting Commissioner
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
Doomadgee Honourable Charis Mullen MP
Minister for Child Safety
Minister for Seniors and Disability Services, and
Minister for Multicultural Affairs		 Bob Gee APM
Director-General
Department of Youth Justice

Hope Vale

Honourable Mick de Brenni MP
Minister for Energy and Clean Economy Jobs

Assisted by Shane King MP
Assistant Minister for Clean Energy and Jobs

Mike Kaiser
Director-General
Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Assisted by Bernadette Ditchfield
Acting Director-General
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

Kowanyama

Honourable Mark Ryan MP
Minister for Police and Community Safety

 Mark Cridland
Director-General
Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works

Lockhart River

Honourable Leanne Linard MP
Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, and
Minister for Science and Innovation

 Warwick Agnew
Director-General
Department of Resources

Mapoon

Honourable Mark Furner MP
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries, and
Minister for Rural Communities

 Paul Martyn
Director-General
Department of Energy and Climate

Mornington Island

Honourable Meaghan Scanlon MP
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Planning, and
Minister for Public Works

Assisted by Ali King MP
Assistant Minister for Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works

 Michael Walsh
Acting Director-General
Queensland Health

Mossman Gorge

Honourable Yvette D'Ath MP
Attorney-General
Minister for Justice, and
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence

Assisted by James Sullivan MP
Assistant Minister for Justice and Veteran Affairs

 David Mackie
Public Sector Commissioner
Public Sector Commission

Napranum

Honourable Grace Grace MP
Minister for State Development and Infrastructure
Minister for Industrial Relations, and
Minister for Racing

 Sally Stannard
Acting Director-General
Department of Transport and Main Roads

Northern Peninsula Area

Honourable Glenn Butcher MP
Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing, and
Minister for Water

Graham Fraine
Director-General
Department of State Development and Infrastructure

Assisted by Linda Dobe
Acting Director-General
Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water

Palm Island

Honourable Scott Stewart MP
Minister for Resources and Critical Minerals

 

 Andrew Hopper
Director-General
Department of Tourism and Sport

Pormpuraaw

Honourable Dr Steven Miles MP
Premier

Assisted by Honourable Nikki Boyd MP
Minister for Fire and Disaster Recovery, and
Minister for Corrective Services

 Michael Carey
Under Treasurer
Queensland Treasury

Torres Strait

Honourable Shannon Fentiman MP
Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services, and
Minister for Women

 Deidre Mulkerin
Director-General
Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services

Woorabinda

Honourable Lance McCallum MP
Minister for Employment and Small Business, and
Minister for Training and Skills Development

Assisted by Ms Brittany Lauga MP
Assistant Minister for Health and Regional Health Infrastructure

 Dr Chris Sarra
Chief Executive Officer
First Nations Engagement and Innovation
Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Wujal Wujal

Honourable Leeanne Enoch MP
Minister for Treaty
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
Minister for Communities, and
Minister for the Arts

Assisted by Corrine McMillan MP
Assistant Minister for Education and Youth Justice

 Jamie Merrick
Director-General
Department of Environment, Science and Innovation

Yarrabah

Honourable Michael Healy MP
Minister for Tourism and Sport

Michael De'Ath
Director-General
Department of Education

Assisted by Gerard Coggan
Coordinator-General