Member of Parliament (MP) for Lilley, Anika Wells, has joined the Anthony Albanese cabinet as the Federal Minister for Sport.

Before being elevated to the ministry, Wells served on the backbench, after replacing Wayne Swann and winning her seat in the 2019 Federal election, where she became the youngest female MP.

In addition to joining the cabinet, Wells, has joined the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic organising committee, replacing Liberal Senator, Richard Colbeck, who left the panel after losing the federal election.

Commenting on her committee appointment, Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said Wells sat in on a committee meeting on Friday, ahead of her formal appointment.

“It’s fantastic, she’s a Queenslander, she’s a woman and it’s wonderful she’s been appointed sports minister,” Palaszczuk said.

“And my advice is that she’ll be joining us as an observer until she is fully endorsed by the federal government.

“She’ll be joining us at our first meeting today, so looking forward to having her on board,” she said.

In addition to Wells, Labor MP for Oxley, Milton Dick, is a potential candidate to replace Liberal National Party MP, Ted O’Brien, after Dick was part of the delegation which traveled to Switzerland in 2019 as part of the 2032 bid.