Our verdict: NSW Government report card for 2021
As the school year winds down it is report card time — no, not for the state’s students but for our politicians. Here is The Daily Telegraph’s annual Macquarie St rankings.
NSW
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With a reshuffle looming before the end of the year, Premier Dominic Perrottet is set to promote fresh talent but will need to cut underperforming ministers loose. In a year dominated by Delta, here’s how the government’s Ministers fared – including some high profile names who didn’t make it to the end.
DOMINIC PERROTTET – GRADE: A-
As Treasurer, Dominic Perrottet dragged the Commonwealth to the table to establish generous JobSaver payments during the second lockdown. A frustrated Scott Morrison swore at Perrottet over the issue, but the stimulus measure proved vital to keep people afloat.
In proposing bold ideas at The Daily Telegraph’s Bradfield Oration, Perrottet is seeking to forge his own path as Premier. His future success relies on whether he can step out of Gladys Berejiklian’s shadow.
PAUL TOOLE – GRADE: B-
Acknowledging his predecessor’s crash or crash through mentality when taking over the Nationals leadership, Paul Toole vowed to be a “pain in the arse” about the bush and “elbow (Dominic Perrottet) in the ribs” if required.
Toole hasn’t been involved in any major scandals, but he’ll need to lift his profile to prove his chops.
MATT KEAN – GRADE: B
The ultra-ambitious Matt Kean has had a big year, getting the Nationals on-board with his goal to reduce emissions by 50 per cent by 2030, and successfully steering through plans to secure private investment for renewable energy.
Colleagues say that whether you agree with him or not, he’s “got it done”. With less blowback than in 2020, too. But he was forced to backtrack when he tried to appoint Malcolm Turnbull to a clean energy board.
STUART AYRES – GRADE: B+
Stuart Ayres gets points again for his work in pushing to ease Covid restrictions before the Delta outbreak, and as the city emerged from lockdown in October.
But since taking the role of Deputy Liberal Leader, Ayres has irritated more than a few Ministers by seeking – as one colleague put it – to “photo bomb announcements”.
BRAD HAZZARD: GRADE: B-
Hazzard could be given a “D for Delta” grade after lax health laws failed to punish the maskless Bondi limo driver.
But “B” is a better letter to describe the Health Minister’s performance this year – for belligerence (for better or worse). “Battleship,” as Hazzard was once dubbed by Mike Baird, often wrangled overly-cautious Health authorities in favour of opening up the economy.
MARK SPEAKMAN – GRADE: D-
Mark Speakman angered cabinet Ministers last year with a bungled bid to change drug offence laws – a year later the issue is still yet to be resolved.
Critics question whether he could be demoted in a looming reshuffle, saying that Speakman has frustrated a number of colleagues.
But Speakman earns credit for finally dealing with Zoe’s Law. Changes to defamation laws and affirmative consent legislation are also a plus.
DAMIEN TUDEHOPE – GRADE: B+
Backbenchers rate Damien Tudehope highly for his work setting up Covid relief payments for small businesses.
Tudehope keeps his head down and is generally well-liked. But at 68 some colleagues think he’s nearing the tail end of his career.
BRONNIE TAYLOR – GRADE: B+
A quiet achiever but not afraid to speak out when needed, Bronnie Taylor’s stocks rose further when she was elected unopposed as the Nationals Deputy Leader in October.
The Daily Telegraph’s Bush Summit called for the government to appoint a stand-alone Regional Health Minister; perhaps an opportunity for Taylor to step up.
VICTOR DOMINELLO – GRADE: B-
The Service NSW platform has been vital during the pandemic but Victor Dominello’s colleagues are bemused at his obsession with pet projects.
The ‘Minister for Apps’ failed to push through legislation to mandate a state government parking platform for councils, and has caused significant angst among Ministers who think he neglects key stakeholders. Colleagues think he’ll lose responsibility for Liquor and Gaming in the reshuffle.
DAVID ELLIOTT – GRADE: B
Happy to start a fight with his colleagues, David Elliott has seen through the appointment of a new police commissioner and upgraded a number of emergency services buildings.
Elliott notably lashed out at Brad Hazzard over enforcement of Covid rules and Mark Speakman over bail failures. Elliott was also accused of demonising Western Sydney residents with the Police response at the height of Delta, but he’d argue it was a necessary evil.
ROB STOKES – GRADE: C
Rated on his new role as Transport Minister, Rob Stokes would be an instant fail. But Stokes’ woes in the portfolio are a hangover from the departed Andrew Constance whose resignation couldn’t have been timed better (see below).
On Planning, Stokes has performed better. He steered through a compromise on Koala protection rules and has worked to boost housing supply while creating a “beautiful” Sydney.
ANTHONY ROBERTS – GRADE: B
A factional ally of the new Premier and a senior Minister with internal clout. Largely kept Covid out of prisons, with no headline-grabbing scandals. Will likely push for a bigger job in the reshuffle but that would raise questions about Dominic Perrottet rewarding his mates.
NATALIE WARD – GRADE: C
Shortly after taking office, Premier Dominic Perrottet appeared to forget that Natalie Ward had been promoted to the Ministry, when he named Geoff Lee as the “Multicultural Minister”. In fact, Ward had held that position since May.
You could almost forgive the slip of the tongue – Ward hasn’t been the most prominent frontbencher.
She loses marks for failing to get community sport back sooner. Room for improvement.
DON HARWIN – GRADE: F
It’s been a tough year to be the Arts Minister, with the Delta lockdown keeping everyone stuck at home for more than three months and severe restrictions on performances.
At least Don Harwin was able to squeeze in a $100,000 art gala for the Art Gallery of NSW’s 150th anniversary, featuring a $10,000 cake and $20,000 worth of umbrellas.
Colleagues have questioned what Harwin has been able to deliver for the arts – one of the sectors hit hardest by Covid.
SARAH MITCHELL – GRADE: C
A strong parliamentary performer, Sarah Mitchell was across her brief. She rates fairly well with colleagues, and helped get kids back to school despite concerns from Health. But she failed to convince Health bureaucrats to let HSC students sit their exams without masks. She launched a head-on attack on the unions this week perhaps in an attempt to sandbag her position.
MELINDA PAVEY – GRADE: C-
Hardly popular within her own party, Melinda Pavey bombed in her bid to become Nationals leader.
Pavey is competent enough but will she survive a reshuffle?
ADAM MARSHALL – GRADE: C-
Marshall’s main claim to fame this year was sending a raft of colleagues into 14 days of strict isolation when he tested positive to Covid-19 after attending a post-budget fundraiser.
MPs locked up for two weeks still raise their frustrations.
The Agriculture Minister recently lost his fourth Chief of Staff since the election – a curiously high turnover rate.
SHELLEY HANCOCK – GRADE: D-
The Local Government Minister is frequently said to be bowing out of politics at the next election (although no-one will say for sure). Perhaps it’s time for some new blood.
ALISTER HENSKENS – GRADE: C
The Families, Communities, and Disability Services portfolio is famously tough. Alister Henskens has largely flown under the radar since his promotion but has entrenched problems to address – like one child kept in a serviced apartment in out of home care for more than 300 days.
GEOFF LEE – GRADE: C
Effective local member but overshadowed in the ministry by more senior colleagues. Covid programs for TAFE were popular (but only 20 per cent of students finished). Geoff Lee hasn’t set the world on fire, but holds a must-win seat so a demotion would be tricky.
KEVIN ANDERSON – GRADE: F
More than four years since the Grenfell tower fire, Kevin Anderson’s Project Remediate has not replaced a single piece of flammable cladding on high risk NSW buildings.
He also took a back seat to Stuart Ayres in getting crowds back to the races.
Ministers speculate Anderson could be set for a demotion.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
BEREJIKLIAN – GRADE: DISQUALIFIED
The fact that Gladys Berejiklian is being touted for a tilt at federal politics despite facing an inquiry into whether she allowed or encouraged corruption is a sign of her remarkable popularity in the electorate.
But multiple MPs say the party room and cabinet is working better after her forced exit than under her rule.
CONSTANCE – GRADE: F (FOR FAILED TRAMS AND FAULTY FERRIES)
Almost immediately after Andrew Constance quit state politics to make a federal tilt, trams started to crack and more ferry faults were exposed.
It was a display of timing the state’s trains and buses could only dream of.
BARILARO – GRADE: B-
An important voice for the bush and a key member of the Covid crisis cabinet before he bowed out. Barilaro didn’t threaten to blow up the Coalition government this year, so he gets points for that.
POTENTIAL WINNERS:
James Griffin – touted as the next Environment Minister.
Eleni Petinos – it seems the time has come for Petinos, long touted for the ministry
Natasha McLaren-Jones – failed to get Upper House presidency, a Ministry looks in the offing.
Mark Coure – long promised a front bench role under Gladys Berejiklian but never got there.
Tanya Davies – the dumped Minister could find her way back, with Perrottet needing to reward his right wing faction.
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