Mixing with Minns: Old mates, opponents and spa sessions – the Premier’s inner circle revealed
The Premier is known for consulting widely, even with former political opponents, but there is a tight-knit circle of friends and advisers who hold the most sway with Chris Minns.
NSW
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There’s a surprising new name that has been added to the list of people who have Premier Chris Minns’ ear: former Liberal minister Stuart Ayres.
Ayres approached Minns shortly after he started his role as a pro-developer lobbyist in June last year.
Since then, the pair has met a number of times to talk about a shared goal for higher density housing – and how to achieve it.
Minns then sounded out the former Coalition minister turned Urban Development Institute of Australia NSW CEO on various measures that would ultimately form part of last month’s budget.
Is it curious that a Labor Premier would so readily seek advice from a former Coalition opponent with whom he had been at war for the past three years? Not so, say those who know the Premier best.
“If you are good at what you do and you are smart, he will talk to you,” says one long-term confidant of Minns.
Even if it crosses party lines. Former premier Dominic Perrottet is another with whom Minns has discussed matters of state, although they do not talk much now Perrottet has moved to Washington DC.
Industry leaders, union bosses, colleagues and comrades all told Saturday Extra that the Premier consulted widely, but had a tight-knit circle of friends and advisers on whom he relied.
Minns refused to be interviewed for this piece, but Saturday Extra spoke to more than a dozen people in the Premier’s orbit, including those closest to him, on the condition that they could remain anonymous.
Some of the Premier’s closest friendships date back to the 1990s, when Minns came through the Young Labor ranks.
There, he forged relationships with a group of mates who all became prominent in politics and business in their own right.
Former NSW Labor general secretary Jamie Clements was one. The relationship has survived Clements resigning as ALP boss over sexual harassment allegations (no charges were ever laid, and a parliamentary inquiry found insufficient evidence to substantiate the claims).
Clements, now a partner at a criminal law firm, still speaks to Minns regularly, friends say.
High-powered lobbyist Brent Thomas is another member of the squad, as is Damian Kassabgi, who made millions in tech and is now the Tech Council of Australia CEO.
The gang of four are still tight, according to those who know them, and their families sometimes catch up.
Minns’ wife, Anna, also came up through Young Labor. She is an influence on Minns that should “not be underestimated”, says one person in her circle.
Minns’ mates from his staffing days also include Lachlan Harris, a former adviser to Kevin Rudd. Harris played an integral role in Minns’ election win, helping craft Labor’s political strategy.
Minns also took advice from a range of Labor elders during the election campaign and after.
Former premiers Bob Carr and Morris Iemma have been a source of advice, and former Olympics minister Michael Knight also played a mentoring role.
In the broader Labor movement, Minns speaks regularly to NSW general secretary Dominic Ofner and UnionsNSW boss Mark Morey (despite Minns’ scraps with the union movement over policy).
Since his election win, Minns has increasingly relied on a core group of colleagues for his government’s political direction.
Treasurer Daniel Mookhey “drives a lot of the intellectual substance” of the government, says one Labor figure. Says another: “Chris definitely trusts (Mookhey’s) views, and him.”
Deputy Premier Prue Car forms a crucial part of Minns’ leadership team, seen as being a “strong performer” and delivering “marginal-seat retail politics” heft.
The government’s Upper House Leader Penny Sharpe, of Labor’s Left faction, is key to Minns (from the Right) keeping the party’s rank and file together.
“Penny brings the Left and the party’s progressive constituency (along),” one source says.
Minns’ best mate and closest confidant in parliament is Steve Kamper, who has a grab bag of portfolios for which he is responsible, but his most important (albeit unofficial) role is that of a sounding board for the Premier.
The pair are so close that they meet every week for a cold plunge and sauna session.
Those close to the Premier say it is a way for Minns to recharge and refocus, while simply shooting the breeze.
“Inside that steamy room is one of the few times that Chris can really be himself,” says one source.
Seen as having no ambitions for the top job himself (nor prospect to get there), Kamper is Minns’ “Praetorian Guard”.
“(Minns) absolutely trusts him.”
Kamper was part of a core group of MPs who backed Minns when he unsuccessfully ran for Labor leader in 2019, and has stuck with him ever since.
That group also includes Housing Minister Rose Jackson and ex-Transport minister Jo Haylen.
When it comes to the nuts and bolts of governing, one of the most important relationships Minns has is with his department secretary Simon Draper – who is around Minns “most of the time”.
The Premier also relies heavily on a core group of staff, led by James Cullen – who used to staff for Energy Minister Chris Bowen (another Labor identity with whom Minns is close).
Policy director Edward Ovadia and media director Sarah Michael are also integral to the Minns operation. Michael is known to often brief Minns on morning media issues before sunrise.
Former Kogarah MP Cherie Burton is another crucial member of staff, as Minns’ conduit to the Labor caucus.
While he speaks to a broad range of stakeholders, industry and business leaders, it is this core group – staff, Draper, and senior colleagues – that Minns is said to rely on the most.
Says one veteran adviser: “When you are in government, the really influential people are those that are in the trenches, day in and day out”.
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