Vic: Pakula wins cabinet spot, but not the first choice

AAP General News (Australia)
12-29-2008
Vic: Pakula wins cabinet spot, but not the first choice

By Catherine Best

MELBOURNE, Dec 29 AAP - Former union boss Martin Pakula will steer Victoria's troubled
manufacturing sector into 2009 even if he isn't the first choice for the job.

Mr Pakula, 39, won the cabinet promotion by default on Monday after Premier John Brumby's
preferred candidate quit politics.

Evan Thornley announced his shock resignation on the eve of a special caucus meeting
to elect a successor for Theo Theophanous, who has stood down after being charged with
rape.

Standing alongside Mr Pakula, the premier declared the new cabinet recruit a "perfect
fit", shrugging off suggestions he was the second-best choice.

"I couldn't want for a better minister than Martin Pakula," Mr Brumby said, adding
that Mr Thornley's time was over.

"In my mind that's done, that's gone, that's done, that's finished and he's made that decision.

"He's made a solid contribution to the government, we thank him for that, but we've
turned the leaf on that book and this is a new leaf and it's the Martin Pakula book."

Mr Brumby said Mr Pakula was an "impeccably well credentialed" contributor to the ALP
and Labor's "strongest performer in the upper house".

Mr Pakula, a married father of two, has served as the upper house member for the western
metropolitan region for two years and was formerly the state secretary of the National
Union of Workers (NUW).

He takes on the portfolios of industry and trade and industrial relations but Mr Theophanous'
other two portfolios have been split.

Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas has added major projects to his responsibilities,
while Treasurer John Lenders has gained Information and Communication Technology and the
new financial services portfolio.

Mr Pakula said he was honoured and humbled to receive the endorsement of the premier
and caucus and the circumstances of his promotion were "of little importance".

"The circumstances don't fuss me, what I'm interested in is the role that I now have
to fill," he said.

"I have no illusions about the level of responsibility that it entails but it's something
that I'm very excited and humbled about and something that I am very keen to get my teeth
into."

Acting Opposition Leader Louise Asher said it was a major embarrassment for the premier
when his preferred candidate knocked back the job.

She said the government had lost a candidate with business experience to a former trade unionist.

"I would think the business community would not be pleased with this."

The Labor caucus will elect a replacement for Mr Thornley's upper house seat of the
southern metropolitan region in early February.

Mr Theophanous will remain in parliament as he contests a charge alleging he raped
a woman at parliament house in 1998.

AAP cmb/pmu/ldj/jlw

KEYWORD: CABINET VIC WRAP

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