Reshuffle is at the midpoint of NSW’s tenure labor.
New South Wales (NSW) Prime Minister Chris Mins reshuffled the cabinet after the minister was forced to take taxpayer-funded ministerial cars to a private event.
This reshuffle is the first major change since Labour took office two years ago from the liberal and national coalition government in 2012.
Minister John Graham will undertake the transportation portfolio after former Minister of Transport Joe Halen was forced to resign in early February.
Graham also continues his arts, music and nighttime economy portfolio and remains Minister of State.
Mins is also making wider modifications to the cabinet, with Lismore MP Janelle Saffin joining the ranks as Minister of Recovery, Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Minister of North Coast.
Safin has played a major role in helping the NSW government respond to the 2022 floods with former tropical Cyclone Alfred.
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“She has knowledge of how the NSW Reconstruction Department works and will be a very strong advocate and voice for the North Coast, not just small businesses throughout the state,” Mins said.
She was also “forced to swim for her life” in 2022 when a “tsunami-like” Lismore flood reached her home.
“Sometimes afterwards, she continued to help save the other two who were trapped in the flood,” Mins said.
“He is one of our government’s most experienced lawmakers and has been committed to helping Lismore’s community and surround recover from the 2022 floods and from the recent impacts from Alfred.”
As part of the remodel, Jenny Hitchson will become Minister of Roads and Minister of Regional Transport. Regional road portfolios will be integrated into a wider road portfolio.
“As a local councillor, Jenny Hitchson is well positioned to ensure that the needs of the local and rural communities are met,” Mins said.
Steve Camper will become Minister of Employment and Tourism, adding to his current role as Minister of Land and Property, Minister of Multicultural and Minister of Sports.
Meanwhile, Emily Svar is sworn in as Parliamentary Secretary of Trade and Small Businesses to assist the Minister in providing government priorities.
“These are key changes to the NSW Department that ensure that people continue to invest in the critical services they rely on and build a better NSW,” Mins said.
The re-shuffle came after it was revealed that Halen had used a driver to attend a winery lunch over the Australia Day weekend. She remains MP.
What’s going on within the Union?
Meanwhile, NSW’s Union Shadow Cabinet is led by Mark Speakman after becoming opposition leader in April 2023.
The liberals held power for three terms with four prime ministers: Barry O’Farrell, Mike Baird, Gladys Bereziklian and Dominic Perrott.
Popular players in the current Cabinet include liberal Natalie Ward, who serves as the deputy leader of the opposition, and Nationalist Party leader Dugard Sanders.
Damien Tudehope serves as Shadow Treasurer, Sarah Mitchell takes care of her education, and Kellie Sloane offers her health portfolio.
A by-election was held in Port Macquarie voters on March 15th after liberal lawmaker Leslie Williams resigned.
Labour chose not to run the candidates, while liberals fought it with the People, Independence, Green and Libertarians, and chose to legalize it with the Cannabis Party.
