Matt Kean helps give CPR to man minutes after becoming Treasurer
Just minutes after being sworn in as the NSW Treasurer, Matt Kean gave CPR to a man he stumbled upon having a heart attack in the Sydney CBD.
NSW
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There has been more drama at Macquarie Street as the state’s treasurer found himself at the centre of a heart attack scare.
Matt Kean has had a busy 24 hours — saving the life of a man who collapsed in Martin Place just hours after the new treasurer was sworn in.
It’s understood Mr Kean was outside 60 Martin Place at about 6.30pm on Tuesday when he saw a man collapsed with a small crowd around him.
The man was receiving CPR from a local pharmacist when Mr Kean offered to take over before an ambulance arrived and took the man to St Vincent’s Hospital.
Mr Kean said he hoped the man was recovering.
“Anyone would have done the same. My heart goes out to his family,” he told the Daily Telegraph.
GLADYS’ MESSAGE TO SUCCESSOR
Gladys Berejiklian has been seen for the first time in public since announcing her resignation.
The former premier entered her electorate office on Wednesday morning, flanked by the local federal MP Trent Zimmerman.
The windows of her office are plastered with messages of support, with flowers placed around the door.
Dominic Perrottet will be sworn in as New South Wales Premier after being elected leader of the NSW Liberal Party.
Mr Perrottet defeated Planning Minister Rob Stokes in a party room ballot 39 votes to five. Stuart Ayres was elected unopposed as deputy leader.
The former treasurer will become the state’s youngest ever premier at 39-years-old and takes the reins from Gladys Berejiklian following her shock resignation on Friday.
BUREAUCRATS BRACE FOR CHANGE
A change at the top of the NSW Government politically means the state’s top public servants are also bracing for the winds of change.
The state’s top public servant, Jim Betts, officially takes over from the well respected Tim Reardon in the Department of Premier and Cabinet at the beginning of next month. He will be casting a wary eye at his new boss, Premier Dominic Perrottet.
Mr Betts, a former British punk rocker, moves into the role from his time as the head of planning where he drove cultural reform including removing pin ups from building site tea rooms.
He would certainly have been keen to renew his working relationship with Mr Stokes in the Premier’s chair. He will be well aware Mr Perrottet, in his role as treasurer, ordered the Productivity Commission to look into the state’s woeful housing supply. It recommended reform of the NSW Planning System Mr Betts was in charge of. Now Mr Perrottet is his boss.
But Mr Betts will not be the only departmental secretary nervously eyeing the door for the new boss to walk in.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance’s resignation means his recently appointed Transport secretary Rob Sharp will be keen to impress the new minister after replacing the highly regarded Rod Staples, who was responsible for the delivery of the new Metro system.
Kiersten Fishburn was promoted from within the Department of Planning to take over from Mr Betts as department head and will be keen to continue working with Mr Stokes.
The changing of the guard was welcomed by Tom Forrest, chief executive of the Urban Taskforce, who said the new Premier would help drive recovery.
“Urban Taskforce welcomed the appointment of Kiersten Fishburn as she came to the role with a can-do attitude. Under Dominic Perrottet’s leadership now is the time for her to deliver,” he said.
One secretary who is unlikely to be worried by the arrival of a new minister is the head of Treasury Michael Pratt.
New Treasurer Matt Kean will know Mr Pratt has worked hand in glove with the new Premier in his previous role and has runs on the board with the way the people of NSW have been supported through Covid without sending the state broke.
Also secure in her role is Health Department Secretary Elizabeth Koff, who has worked with health minister Brad Hazzard through the pandemic. Deputy Secretary and NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant has become a public figure through her daily Covid briefings and is easily the most recognisable bureaucrat in the government. Any thought of removing her would lead to a public outcry.
PM CONGRATULATES PERROTTET
Newly elected NSW Premier Dom Perrottet has been described as a “powerful advocate” for the state and person of “strong beliefs” with a “keen commitment to family” by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Mr Morrison congratulated Mr Perrottet on his election as leader of the Liberal Party and premier.
“Dom and I have worked closely together for a long time, including both when I was Treasurer, and as Prime Minister,” Mr Morrison said.
“I know the commitment and dedication he will bring to his new role, and the energy he will invest in continuing to deliver for NSW.
“Dom is also someone who has strong beliefs, a keen commitment to family and the Liberal values that respect reward for effort, personal responsibility and doing what’s right by your community.”
Mr Morrison said he had worked closely with Mr Perrottet in the past 18 months to ensure businesses and families received support during the pandemic.
“Dom has been a powerful advocate for the needs of NSW and Australia as we work towards living with COVID-19, and I know he is committed to the National Plan to safely reopen Australia, and to stay safely open,” he said.
“With NSW vaccination levels now at 67.7 per cent double dose, those first steps to eased restrictions and more freedom are just days away.”
Mr Morrison also acknowledged the “strong leadership” of former premier Gladys Berejiklian.
“She has been an outstanding servant to the people of NSW and has equally made a significant contribution at the national level,” he said.
“I look forward to continuing to work with all state and territory leaders as we steer Australia out of the pandemic.”
PERROTTET: NO CABINET RESHUFFLE
The premier-in-waiting set his agenda in his first public address as leader, saying there will be no cabinet reshuffle until the state had bounced back from the second wave of Covid
“My expectation is (it will be) over summer. We are at an incredibly important juncture. On Monday our state opens up again.”
Mr Perrottet said Environment Minister Matt Kean will take over the Treasury portfolio and said “we will work through” vacancies left by the departure of Transport Minister Andrew Constance and Deputy Premier John Barilaro.
Mr Perrottet denied promising his colleagues specific portfolios in order to win their support against Rob Stokes.
“There were no deals,” he said.
He also denied a deal with the moderate faction of his party on the issue of assisted dying to secure their backing.
An overhaul of regulation agency ICAC was also not on the agenda, with Mr Perrottet saying the agency’s authority “should be respected”.
ROAD MAP MEETING TO BE HELD THIS AFTERNOON
A crisis cabinet meeting will be held today to discuss the NSW road map out of lockdown but the state’s “Freedom Day” will remain on Monday, October 11, refuting earlier reports Mr Perrottet would be bringing forward the opening to this Friday.
“We will obviously look at the road map. We are committed to it, both Minister Ayres and myself played a part in developing that with the deputy premier,” Mr Perrottet said.
“What I commit to doing is this afternoon, after the swearing-in, I will sit down with Minister Hazzard and the health team alongside Minister Ayres and members of the crisis cabinet to have a discussion in relation to the road map,” he said.
“But obviously, this is early days and we have done so well and my intention at this stage is that that day will remain on Monday for next week, but there are a number of issues that need to be looked at, and obviously, health is our number one priority right now and I will sit down with the minister and the whole team this afternoon.”
PERROTTET PAYS TRIBUTE TO BEREJIKLIAN
Mr Perrottet also paid tribute to outgoing leader Gladys Berejiklian during his address.
“Everyone would agree her hard work, tireless dedication and total commitment to her job was second to none,” he said.
He added that he intended to be a “family premier” who will work to make life easier for families, working mums and dads, tradies, frontline workers and more.
PERROTTET EMERGES AFTER VOTE
Dominic Perrottet walked out of the party room meeting to face waiting cameras flanked by his running mate and deputy Stuart Ayres.
He emerged with his hard right factional allies close behind him, led by Hawkesbury MP Robyn Preston and Tanya Davies.
“It’s an honour and absolute privilege to be elected as the parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party and the Premier of New South Wales alongside my deputy leader, Stuart Ayres,” he said. “I really appreciate the trust my colleagues have put in me today.”
STOKES GIVES PERROTTET ‘UNDIVIDED LOYALTY’
Rob Stokes hobbled out of the meeting on a broken ankle.
He was followed by Davidson MP Jonathan O’Dea and Riverstone MP Kevin Connolly.
Mr Stokes said he would do what it takes to ensure Mr Perrottet is re-elected.
“The party room had a democratic vote. I always said I would give people a choice. They have chosen emphatically, democracy is the winner,” he said after the vote.
“Dominic Perrottet will be a magnificent premier and he has new undivided loyalty and support. And I will use every ounce of strength in my body to make sure that he is re-elected as Premier in New South Wales when we go to the polls in 2023.”
BRAD HAZZARD: ‘I WELCOME HIM’
Long-time Gladys Berejiklian supporter Brad Hazzard brushed off questions about the party holding a contested ballot for the first time in more than 20 years.
“I welcome the new premier and he’ll do a great job looking after the people in New South Wales,” the health minister said.
“What happens is we have a Premier who will make sure the citizens of the state are looked after. I look forward to that.”
Rival faction powerbrokers Matt Kean (from the moderates) and Anthony Roberts (from the hard right) walked out of the meeting together.
LIBERAL MPS ENTER VOTING ROOM
Mr Perrottet was flanked by his running mate Stuart Ayres, East Hills MP Wendy Lindsay and Goulburn MP Wendy Tuckerman as he entered the party room meeting just before 10am.
Challenger Rob Stokes entered with upper house MP Natalie Ward and Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams.
Moderate faction leader Matt Kean entered the meeting in a group of nine.
Gladys Berejiklian is not in the meeting.
MP RAY WILLIAMS SENT TO HOSPITAL
Earlier, Hawkesbury MP Ray Williams was sent to hospital for a PCR Covid swab after returning two non-negative rapid antigen tests.
Mr Williams will vote by proxy after being advised not to enter parliament.
The RAT testing protocols have caused major delays ahead of the crucial party room meeting.
ROB STOKES REMAINS CONFIDENT OF TILT
Mr Stokes remained committed to his leadership tilt on Tuesday morning despite widespread support for Mr Perrottet.
Mr Stokes told 2GB radio he will still compete for the top spot in today’s ballot to give MPs a choice of leader.
”We live in a democracy, we don’t live in North Korea,” he said.
Despite conceding Perrottet would make a “great” leader, he refused to speculate on his chances of winning.
“I’m always in it to win it,” he said.
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