Dominic Perrottet sidelines top advisers Kerry Chant and Jim Betts
Just 72 hours into his new job as Premier, Dominic Perrottet has sidelined the state’s most senior medic and the man due to fill the role of NSW’s top bureaucrat.
NSW
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The state’s most senior medic and the politically correct mandarin due to take the role as NSW’s top bureaucrat have been sidelined by new Premier Dominic Perrottet less than 72 hours into the job.
Chief health officer Kerry Chant was not invited to Mr Perrottet’s first Covid media briefing on Thursday, despite significant announcements about the reopening plan, prompting speculation the pair did not see eye-to-eye on the new road map.
It comes as former British punk rocker Jim Betts, who was hand-picked by Gladys Berejiklian to start running the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) later this month, was told not to bother coming in by Mr Perrottet.
When asked if Dr Chant had endorsed the additional freedoms announced by Mr Perrottet, health authorities evaded the question and claimed health advice in crisis cabinet was confidential.
“All advice provided by NSW Health is carefully considered by government, along with advice from a range of stakeholders,” a NSW Health statement said.
“The specific discussions that take place at this committee are cabinet-in-confidence.”
When asked if Dr Chant and her team had endorsed his plan, Mr Perrottet shot down claims of a disagreement saying: “Yes, they have endorsed it.
“Every change to this road map has been supported and approved by Health.”
Mr Perrottet said Dr Chant would be invited to future public briefings if he deemed it “appropriate” and her absence was counteracted by his decision to release Covid figures at 9am instead of the usual 11am.
“I think getting those numbers out early provides that information to the public,” he said.
It comes as Mr Perrottet appointed Michael Coutts-Trotter to the role of Secretary to the DPC, side stepping Ms Berejiklian’s choice in Mr Betts.
“Our new Premier has decided to terminate my contract,” Mr Betts said in a statement last night.
“I make no complaint about this; secretaries are appointed by and serve at the discretion of the Premier. What I won’t do is conceal the reality of my termination behind weasel words. I got fired.”
Mr Betts, who has been running the Department of Planning under Minister Rob Stokes, pioneered a number of reforms there, including removing pin-ups from construction sites and a book club reading of Aboriginal Australian writer Bruce Pascoe’s book Dark Emu.
Mr Perrottet thanked Mr Betts for “his understanding in the change of direction”.
Mr Coutts-Trotter, husband of federal Labor MP Tanya Plibersek, moves from running the Department of Communities and Justice after a well respected career that began as director general of education in 2007.
He has also won respect for turning his life around from a three-year jail stint after being convicted of smuggling heroin in 1986. He emailed all 40,000 staff working in the Justice department to be open about his history when he started there.
Mr Coutts-Trotter takes over from Tim Reardon, who is moving to the private sector.
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