First-term ministers Philip Dalidakis, Natalie Hutchins and John Eren have made way for the new appointments, while the position left vacant after the death of Fiona Richardson last year has also been filled. Premier Daniel Andrews (centre) with new members of his ministry - Jaclyn Symes, Gabrielle Williams, Melissa Horne and Adem Somyurek. Credit:Eddie Jim "Today my colleagues have delivered something that has never been achieved in the history of our state – 50 per cent of cabinet are women," Mr Andrews said on Tuesday. "There is an equality agenda in our state's most important decision-making body." Queensland became the first Australian state to achieve a gender equal cabinet when Annastacia Palaszczuk's Labor government was sworn in for its second term in December. The Northern Territory cabinet is majority women.

The make-up of Labor's new cabinet – 11 men and 11 women – stands in stark contrast to the defeated Liberals, whose number includes just three female MPs among its 18 members confirmed in the new parliament. Mr Andrews addresses the media as he announces his new gender-equal ministry. Credit:Eddie Jim The Premier's announcement represents a return to the fold for Mr Somyurek, a factional powerbroker who was booted from cabinet in 2015 due to bullying allegations by his then chief of staff, Dimity Paul. Mr Somyurek maintained the allegations were part of a factional stitch-up, and spent the remainder of his term on the backbench, dismantling the long-running stability agreement between Labor's left and right factions.

He also put himself at odds with his upper house colleagues in July when he told a privileges committee investigation that he had briefly raised concerns with Mr Andrews about the red shirts scheme of 2014, in which Labor misused $388,000 of public money for campaigning. Adem Somyurek, who Mr Andrews described as a "good friend" while announcing his return to cabinet. Credit:Eddie Jim But on Tuesday Mr Andrews described Mr Somyurek as a good friend and said he was chosen in part because he lives in Melbourne's outer south-eastern suburbs, where much of Labor's infrastructure agenda is playing out. The man who replaced Mr Somyurek in cabinet in 2015, Philip Dalidakis, was in turn cut on Tuesday, although Mr Andrews stressed it was not due to poor performance. Mr Dalidakis had to give up his position as innovation minister to raise Labor's female representation in cabinet to 50 per cent, Mr Andrews said.

"If you are going to have more women in the cabinet, an equal number of women in the cabinet to men, then logic tells you that a number of men cannot be returned to those positions," Mr Andrews said. Loading "Philip has a very bright future and I think he'll have opportunities to contribute in the future." Mr Dalidakis has been appointed chairman of the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee. Melissa Horne, who is yet to be sworn in as the new member for Williamstown, said it was "pretty daunting" to jump straight into cabinet.

Ms Horne was previously a senior adviser with the Level Crossing Removal Authority. The elevation of Ms Symes to cabinet is complicated by the fact that she has not yet secured her spot in the upper house. Ms Symes remains in a tight battle with the Nationals’ Luke O’Sullivan for the fifth and final spot in parliament for Northern Victoria. Ms Symes was upper house whip in the previous administration. She will replace Jaala Pulford as deputy leader of the Legislative Council, although Ms Pulford remains in cabinet.

The government has delayed announcing ministers' portfolios until later in the week. Former ministers Ms Hutchins and Mr Eren released statements on Monday about stepping down from the ministry. Ms Hutchins was the minister for women, industrial relations and Aboriginal affairs. In her statement she said she wanted to spend more time with her children following the death of her husband, former Labor senator Stephen Hutchins, to illness last year. Ms Hutchins would become a parliamentary secretary, continuing to work on the Aboriginal treaty process, Mr Andrews said.