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.

Community	Government Champion	Position	Ministerial Champion	Portfolio
Aurukun	Michael Schaumburg	Director-General Department of State Development	Hon Curtis Pitt	Treasurer, Minister for Trade and Investment
Cherbourg	Clare O'Connor	Director-General Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships	Hon Dr Anthony Lynham	Minister for State Development and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines
Coen	Katarina Carroll	Commissioner Queensland Fire and Emergency Services	Hon Cameron Dick	Minister for Health and Minister for Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
	Michael Walsh	Director-General Queensland Health
Doomadgee	Barry Broe	Coordinator-General	Hon Coralee O'Rourke	Minister for Disability Services, Minister for Seniors and Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland
Hope Vale	Liza Carroll	Director-General Department of Housing and Public Works	Hon Mick de Brenni	Minister for Housing and Public Works and Minister for Sport
Kowanyama	Damien Walker	Director-General Department of Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games	Hon Mark Ryan	Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services and Minister for Corrective Services
Lockhart River	Paul Simshauser	Director-General Department of Energy and Water Supply	Hon Mark Bailey	Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports and Minister for Energy, Biofuels and Water Supply
Mapoon	James Purtill	Director-General Department of Natural Resources and Mines	Hon Bill Byrne	Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Economic Development
Mornington Island	Jim Reeves	Director-General Department of Environment and Heritage Protection	Assistant Minister Jennifer Howard	Assistant Minister of State Assisting the Premier
Mossman Gorge	David Mackie	Director-General Department of Justice and Attorney-General	Hon Yvette D'Ath	Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Training and Skills
Napranum	Jim Murphy	Under Treasurer Queensland Treasury	Hon Grace Grace	Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, Minister for Racing and Minister for Multicultural Affairs
Northern Peninsula Area	Beth Woods	Director-General Department of Agriculture and Fisheries	Assistant Minister Glen Butcher	Assistant Minister for Transport and Infrastructure
Palm Island	Frankie Carroll	Director-General Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning	Hon Jackie Trad	Deputy Premier, Minister for Transport and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning
Pormpuraaw	Dave Stewart	Director-General Department of Premier and Cabinet	Hon Dr Steven Miles	Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection and Minister for National Parks and the Great Barrier Reef
	Tamara O'Shea	Director-General Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing
Torres Strait	Michael Hogan	Director-General Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services	Hon Shannon Fentiman	Minister for Communities, Women and Youth, Minister for Child Safety and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence
Woorabinda	Neil Scales	Director-General Department of Transport and Main Roads	Hon Mark Furner	Minister for Local Government and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs
Wujal Wujal	Jamie Merrick	Director-General Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation	Hon Leeanne Enoch	Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy and Minister for Small Business
Yarrabah	Jim Watterston	Director-General Department of Education and Training	Hon Kate Jones	Minister for Education and Minister for Tourism and Major Events and the Commonwealth Games
All communities	Ian Stewart Robert Setter Clare O'Connor		Hon Annastacia Palaszczuk	Premier and Minister for the Arts
			Hon Mark Furner	Minister for Local Government and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs