Premier Dominic Perrottet will name nine new ministers in his cabinet
Nine MPs are set to take the step up to become new ministers on Monday when Premier Dominic Perrottet announces a cabinet reshuffle.
NSW
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Nine new ministers will be sworn into Dominic Perrottet’s government after the Premier moved to revitalise his frontbench with new talent.
The big winners from Mr Perrottet’s long-awaited reshuffle include four women promoted to Cabinet — Eleni Petinos, Natasha Maclaren-Jones, Wendy Tuckerman and Steph Cooke.
Liberals James Griffin and Mark Coure, and Nationals Dugald Saunders, Ben Franklin and Sam Farraway will also join the frontbench,
Mr Perrottet’s reshuffle will bring new blood into cabinet while also promoting young Ministers into larger portfolios.
But amid the promotions, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall has been dumped from the frontbench, joining Melinda Pavey, Don Harwin, and Shelley Hancock who will not return to the Cabinet table.
Mr Perrottet’s reshuffled cabinet includes a number of new portfolios — a Cities Minister, a Minister for Science, Innovation, Technology and a Homes Minister.
Rob Stokes has been given a larger role as Cities Minister to deliver on Mr Perrottet’s “six cities” vision, first revealed by The Daily Telegraph. Alister Henskens will have a more important role as Science, Innovation and Technology Minister.
Anthony Roberts will return to Planning and add the Homes portfolio to his responsibilities.
David Elliott will be handed the Transport portfolio.
While many consider it to be a poison chalice, it is on the same level of seniority as his former Police Minister role.
Nationals Upper House Member Bronnie Taylor has also added Regional Health to her portfolios – after The Daily Telegraph’s Bush Summit called for regional health to be given its own Ministry.
Mark Speakman will remain as Attorney-General in a move many will see as a win, after speculation that he would be demoted.
Mr Perrottet said his Ministry would be a mix of experience and fresh faces. “The new Ministry harnesses experience, while allowing for renewal and injecting fresh energy into the team,” Mr Perrottet said.
He singled out the Homes Ministry as an important addition to his frontbench.
“We know home ownership is more than just about bricks and mortar, owning your own home is the best start you and your family can have and we will bring a renewed focus to making that dream a reality with a new Minister for Homes,” he said.
Mr Perrottet has also moved to promote more women to the frontbench after indicating a more gender equal ministry when he was elected Liberal Leader.
“Four of our new Ministers are women, and their presence around the Cabinet table will make our government better,” he said.
Deputy Premier Paul Toole said he was proud of the new Nationals talent coming through the party’s ranks, adding: “I know they are going to bring fresh ideas to our government and throw all their energy into helping us build a bigger, brighter future in the regions.”
The reshuffle was set to be confirmed on Sunday evening with Mr Perrottet and Mr Toole locked in Macquarie Street offices to inform MPs of their position.
The pair had kept the details a well-guarded secret until last night.
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