Updated October 24, 2026 — 1:57pm,first published 1:43pmSaveYou have reached your maximum number of saved items.Remove items from your saved list to add more.No gift articles leftYou’ve used all of your gift articles. 3 more will become available on the 1st of every month.CloseAAAConservative backbencher Amanda Stoker has been sworn in as the Crisafulli government’s new child safety minister at Government House following the resignation of Amanda Camm on Friday.Camm, whose portfolio included child safety, domestic and family violence prevention and disability services, announced she was quitting the frontbench due to ongoing health concerns and safety fears in the wake of the attack on federal MP Helen Haines.Amanda Stoker and Natalie Marr are sworn in as new ministers on Saturday.Courtney KrukShe denied the decision was influenced by widespread criticism of her handling of the portfolio and personal matters, including reports of children in residential care sleeping on the floor of government offices, cuts to DFV services budget and a bungled IT system roll-out compromising responses to child safety matters.Stoker – a former senator and first-term state MP who held a number of senior federal assistant minister roles under prime minister Scott Morrison – was the name most widely discussed in party circles on Friday to replace Camm, and will oversee the same portfolios in her new role.She arrived at Government House with her husband, lawyer Adam Stoker, and children ahead of the swearing-in ceremony at midday.Outgoing Queensland Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm.Cameron AtfieldSpeaking after the ceremony alongside Premier David Crisafulli, Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie and Thuringowa MP Natalie Marr, Stoker acknowledged the “heavy responsibility” of the portfolios.“I don’t think it’s a shock to say this is a difficult area in which to work,” Stoker said.“I thank [Amanda Camm] for laying a really strong foundation for reform [and] I’m looking forward to devoting myself to understanding the issues in this difficult portfolio.”Marr will replace Stoker as Queensland’s new Assistant Finance Minister.Related ArticleCrisafulli made clear his expectations of Stoker were to reduce the number of kids in residential care, increase the number of children adopted and placed into foster care, improve call rates for the state’s domestic violence hotline, and continue lobbying against the federal government’s NDIS reforms.“It’s a tough job, but she’s up to it … and she’s got the pedigree that shows that she can do the job,” Crisafulli said.Stoker is a former barrister and has been an active member of the Liberal Party since the age of 19. She was chosen to replace the retiring George Brandis in the Australian Senate in 2018, and began working as the assistant minister to the attorney-general two years later.After her time in the senate, she hosted a program on Sky News and in 2023 was selected as the candidate for Oodgeroo, an electorate that includes the Redlands districts of Cleveland and Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island).She was elected to Queensland Parliament the following year, and has worked as the assistant minister for finance, trade, employment and training under Ros Bates since.Amanda Stoker being sworn in at Government House on Saturday by Governor of Queensland Dr Jeannette Young. Queensland Parliament As a member of the LNP’s factional right, Stoker is known for being an outspoken opponent of abortion, with ties to several Christian groups including Cherish Life and the Australian Christian Lobby.Earlier this year, she deflected aggressive efforts from the Christian lobby demanding she act on abortion laws, a stance that was expected to be rewarded with a cabinet elevation, after Crisafulli banned any bills or debate on abortion laws when he took government.Asked whether she would use her cabinet position to advocate for changes to abortion after the 2028 election, Stoker said her “commitment to the government’s position hasn’t changed”.Related ArticleOn calls to release an update on action towards the almost 300 recommendations made by the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce, Stoker was equally noncommittal.“It’s really important that we are doing everything we can to keep anybody experiencing domestic and family violence safe,” she said.“It will absolutely get my attention as a priority.”Crisafulli said no further changes to the cabinet would be made ahead of the 2028 election.“This has been facilitated because of somebody stepping aside for illness,” he said.SaveYou have reached your maximum number of saved items.Remove items from your saved list to add more.No gift articles leftYou’ve used all of your gift articles. 3 more will become available on the 1st of every month.CloseFrom our partners
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