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Jones firming for return to Comm Games job

Gold Coast City Council has joined Commonwealth Games organisers in urging the Queensland Government to restore Kate Jones as the event's minister.

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Source: AAP


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Gold Coast's city council has joined Commonwealth Games boss Peter Beattie in endorsing senior Palaszczuk government minister Kate Jones to take back responsibility for the event.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has flagged a "minor" cabinet reshuffle in the wake of Stirling Hinchliffe's resignation as Commonwealth Games and Transport minister on Monday.

Treasurer Curtis Pitt has the Games portfolio for the time being, the fourth person to hold the position in the past three years.

Ms Jones, who is also the tourism and education minister, held the portfolio until December 2015 and Mr Beattie, the Commonwealth Games organising committee chairman has led the call for her to be reinstated.

"Kate Jones was there once and she was a sensational minister -- if someone like Kate comes back that would be good news," Mr Beattie told The Gold Coast Bulletin.

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Gold Coast deputy mayor Donna Gates said the local council would be thrilled if Ms Jones was reappointed as Games minister.

"We all enjoy a great working relationship with her and she has great energy," Cr Gates told reporters on Tuesday.

Cr Gates was joined by Environment Minister Steven Miles at the opening of a redesigned mountain bike trail in Nerang that will be used in the April 2018 Games.

She said the 5km of new and upgraded trails being opened to the public was a prime example of how Games' planning remains on track regardless of who holds the ministerial role.

"There are firm plans in place ... to be perfectly honest I don't believe it is of real importance who the minister is, those things will still be delivered," she said.

Dr Miles said the final decision on who will take on the Games portfolio is up to the premier.

"I think that Queensland and the Gold Coast are very well equipped to deliver what's going to be an amazing Commonwealth Games," he said.


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