Ted Baillieu Welcomes new Ministers and Asafa Powell!

New Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu has named his new ministry, including ministers with leisure industry portfolios, while his Government looks set to pledge $600,000 to next year's Stawell Gift - backing that looks likely to attract world-class sprinter Asafa Powell to the event.

While Premier Baillieu's election campaign eschewed the grandiose funding commitments of Victorian Labor Party leader and former State Premier John Brumby, back in April the new Premier signalled his intention to the long-term future of the Stawell Gift.

Gift spokesman David Culbert told Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper that negotiations had already begun to snare Powell for Australia's richest footrace, stating "we have been in contact with (Powell's) management and they have said, 'Yes, we are interested'.

"The thing with Asafa is he knows Australia, he knows (former winner) Josh Ross, he's run against Josh and he's watched the Gift on YouTube."

The Jamaican, the third fastest man in the world and a former world 100 metre world record holder, almost made it to Stawell this year but had to cancel when a member of his support team was seriously hurt in a car accident.

The 28-year-old, who won the Commonwealth Games 100 metre gold medal in Melbourne in 2006, held the record for three years before his countryman Usain Bolt burst on the scene.

Back in April, following a controversial bid by the city of Ballarat to wrest the Gift from Stawell in April, the Coalition moved to secure the race's future, Baillieu stating "under a Coalition Government, Australia's most famous footrace will remain in Stawell.

"This race is an icon and a major tourist attraction for western Victoria. We will continue to look at ways to assist the Stawell Athletics Club to secure the Gift's long-term viability.

"The Coalition's commitment will give the club the security it needs to attract new sponsors and market the world-class event."

New Premier Baillieu has also named his new Cabinet and assigned Ministerial responsibilities. In addition to appointing himself as Arts Minister, Ministers with leisure responsibilities include:

• David Davis - Health Minister;
• Louise Asher - Tourism and Major Events;
• Hugh Delahunty - Sport and Recreation;
• Dennis Napthine - Racing and Major Projects;
• Michael OâBrien - Gaming;
• Ryan Smith - Environment and Youth Affairs.