NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet is poised to introduce a fresh-faced frontbench that rewards a younger generation of MPs, as two of the state’s longest serving ministers announced their resignation on Saturday afternoon and a third was dropped.
Arts Minister Don Harwin and Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock resigned from the NSW ministry ahead of Mr Perrottet’s long-awaited cabinet reshuffle. Water, Housing and Property Minister Melinda Pavey, the state’s longest serving Nationals MP, was also dropped from cabinet.
Don’t look back: NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet is leaving some of the longest serving ministers behind to install the next generation of cabinet.Credit:Janie Barrett
In separate statements Mr Harwin and Ms Hancock said they had resigned from cabinet and were not seeking a role in Mr Perrottet’s new ministry, while Ms Pavey said she would continue to be “a team player” for NSW while fighting for her Oxley electorate.
On Saturday evening senior ministers and government MPs remained in the dark about Mr Perrottet’s new line-up, which could be announced on Sunday or Monday, with new minsters to be sworn-in before for Christmas.
“It’s dead quiet, we have heard nothing. He is keeping it very close to his chest,” said one government source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the reshuffle.
“It’s like silence of the lambs,” said another senior government source, who also requested anonymity.
‘It is essential that women make up a larger part of the cabinet to provide our views and perspectives.’
Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock after she resigned
The resignation of two of the Parliament’s longest serving Liberal ministers cleared the way for Mr Perrottet to avoid demotions to bring in new talent, adding to the two ministerial vacancies left by outgoing member for Bega Andrew Constance and former premier and outgoing Willoughby MP Gladys Berejiklian.
On Saturday night the names being discussed as possible beneficiaries of the new cabinet sweep included lower house Liberal MPs James Griffin and Eleni Petinos, and upper house MP Natasha Maclaren-Jones. Member for Kogarah Mark Coure was also suggested as a contender.
Among Nationals MPs being touted for a promotion on Saturday were Cootamundra MP Stephanie Cooke, Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders, upper house MP Benjamin Franklin and member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh.
There had been speculation about Ms Pavey’s possible demotion for the past week, while Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall and Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation Minister Kevin Anderson could also be in line for a downgrade.
Mr Perrottet is widely expected to increase the size of the frontbench to meet campaign demands ahead of the March 2023 election.
He has been under pressure to bring a greater representation of women to the cabinet table, with only two Liberal women and three Nationals women sitting in cabinet.
In her resignation statement Ms Hancock urged Mr Perrottet to ensure women played a central role in the cabinet he plans to take to the next election, adding that it was “often difficult being the only woman in the room, or one of a handful”.
“Therefore, it is essential that women make up a larger part of the cabinet to provide our views and perspectives,” she said.
Ms Hancock, member for South Coast since 2003, said she would continue to represent the electorate “with all my energy” until the March 2023 state election.
Mr Harwin said he had been considering in recent weeks whether he would be able to commit to another eight-year term beyond the election.
“I have now decided I will not re-contest my seat and therefore, this is the right time to end my ministerial service,” he said in a statement. “At this stage, I have no plans to leave the Legislative Council before the end of my term.”
Last year, Mr Harwin resigned as a NSW minister but was later reinstated when he was cleared of a $1000 fine for breaching COVID-19 lockdown restrictions when he travelled to his holiday home on the Central Coast.
with Megan Gorrey
Most Viewed in Politics
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMifGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnNtaC5jb20uYXUvcG9saXRpY3MvbnN3L2Ryb3BwZWQtbWluaXN0ZXJzLWNsZWFyLXdheS1mb3ItcGVycm90dGV0LXMtbmV4dC1nZW5lcmF0aW9uLWNhYmluZXQtMjAyMTEyMTgtcDU5aXAzLmh0bWzSAQA?oc=5
2021-12-18 08:25:36Z
1221258689
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Dropped ministers clear way for Perrottet’s next-generation cabinet - Sydney Morning Herald"
Post a Comment