THE re-elected state Labor government announced their new cabinet on 29 November, with local MPs being promoted to parliamentary secretaries.
Carrum MP Sonya Kilkenny was appointed parliamentary secretary for early childhood education, while Mordialloc MP Tim Richardson was appointed parliamentary secretary for schools.
Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke will also be working under Lisa Neville MP as the parliamentary secretary for police and emergency services.
All three retained their seats at the state election with hugely increased majorities.
Mr Edbrooke said in a Facebook post “it’s a huge honour to be appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Police and Emergency Services. Lisa Neville MP is an incredibly effective minister and I can’t tell you how much I am looking forward to working beside her.
“I have worked alongside ambos, SES, police officers and firefighters for a long time. I know what it’s like for first responders because I have been one myself. Having been a firefighter for 14 years, working with all services on Black Saturday, spending weeks leading staff and volunteer crews at the Morwell Mine Fire and training at Fiskville has given me valuable insight into the challenges our police and emergency services face.”
The appointment to the police portfolio is a twist of fate for Mr Edbrooke, who defeated serving police officer Michael Lamb to retain his seat.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 5 December 2018