David Elliott becomes transport minister in Dominic Perrottet’s reshuffle
David Elliott says he will be sad to leave the police portfolio in a cabinet reshuffle announced by Premier Dominic Perrottet, as he moves on to become transport minister.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It was dubbed the poisoned chalice of the NSW cabinet but former Police Minister David Elliott said he is up to the task of handling the state’s troubled transport network under this week’s reshuffle.
Mr Elliott – who is the former chief executive of the Civil Contractors Federation – accepts his new portfolio is a “big challenge” but one that has widespread community impact.
Since Andrew Constance’s departure from the role, the portfolio has been riddled with controversy over foreign manufactured ferries and trams proving faulty.
“I’m really sad to leave police and emergency service but this is politics. Sometimes change and renewal is a good thing,” Mr Elliott said.
The dreaded job of fixing the state’s transport network has been spread across three portfolios with regional transport, metropolitan transport, and active transport each getting a separate minister.
“Transport is something that effects the lives of millions of people in the city,” Mr Elliott said.
“It’s very much a case of ensuring every minute detail is covered.”
Mr Elliott added he was thrilled to take back veterans affairs just as the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide gains momentum.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said Mr Elliott “slotted perfectly” into the role with his infrastructure background.
Outgoing Transport Minister Rob Stokes brushed off Mr Perrottet’s suggestion he may be relieved to leave the role.
“There were elements of transport that were a lot of fun that I will miss,” he said.
Mr Stokes will now manage the cities role along with being minister for “all the transport you do outside the car and train” in the active transport portfolio.
Roads will also be managed separately, with regional roads going to Nationals MP Sam Farraway and Liberal MP Natalie Ward taking metropolitan roads.
Mr Perrottet was yesterday grilled on whether he separated the responsibilities across several ministers because he knew the job was too tough for one person to handle.
“I believe those areas of government responsibility need specific focus … Having individual ministers accountable for those areas will produce better outcomes,” he said.
“I want to make sure that as challenges arise there is a point of contact … What worked in 2010 doesn’t necessarily work in 2020.”
While the Premier’s six new ministers came out winners in the reshuffle, the Nationals longest serving MP Melinda Pavey was blindsided by a demotion when she was removed from her ministerial role.
“There is outrage across the countryside,” Mrs Pavey said, adding she had taken calls from Nationals heavy-hitters Barnaby Joyce, Michael McCormack and Keith Pitt in the aftermath.
The news came just hours after she learned her son Jack had Covid-19.
Mrs Pavey said she was baffled by the move, but would “respect the decision of the leader”.
Exposed: the NSW aged care homes failing residents
More than half of NSW aged care homes are falling short of care targets as providers blame a severe workforce shortage. See the full list.
‘Crucial exposure’: First look at young rugby players touted as future Wallabies
They have been rivals some days, teammates on others and now this close-knit group of young rugby players will share the honour of wearing an Australian uniform for the first time.