The Sauce: Premier Gladys Berejiklian set to revamp her Cabinet
It won’t be long until Gladys Berejiklian will announce the long awaited Cabinet reshuffle to take the Coalition to the next state election. Who’s in the hiring and firing line?
NSW
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Bets are under way on who will be dumped – and promoted – when Premier Gladys Berejiklian finally conducts her long-awaited Cabinet reshuffle to create the team to take the Coalition to the next State Election.
However, ministers are still divided on whether the premier herself will be leading the team come 2023 while there is also speculation if veteran Liberal minister Brad Hazzard will close the door on an impressive 30-year state political career.
While one Macquarie Street source claimed the reshuffle was “imminent”, the majority of ministers believe the end of March made the most sense given it would be after Budget Estimates.
One minister is putting money on the days after March 26 – the 10-year anniversary of the NSW Coalition’s election victory.
“If you have a look at the sitting calendar, the month of April is free to allow the newbies to get on top of their new ministries,” the minister said. As for who will stay or go, most believe the premier will formally dump sidelined Sports, Multiculturalism and Veterans minister John Sidoti to create a vacancy.
Sidoti, has been under investigation over his property interests by the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) since September 2019, with no sign of an outcome.
While Hazzard is keeping tight-lipped on his future, some of his colleagues believe the Health Minister may choose to retire after having successfully navigated the State through hopefully the worst of an unprecedented global pandemic.
The Sauce understands a member of the premier’s left faction has been sounding out several possible replacements, with Planning Minister Rob Stokes and Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello among those named.
Both are deemed solid-performers to take on what will remain a challenging round for some time yet.
Several ministers have also been sounded out for the role of transport, leaving questions over where Bega MP Andrew Constance is headed. It is believed one of the premier’s most loyal lieutenants – Police Minister David Elliott – will stay put along with Treasurer Dominic Perrottet.
Among those that may be moved include Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock, Arts Minister Don Harwin and Lower House Speaker Jonathan O’Dea.
As for who will be promoted, Mark Coure and Alister Henskens are deemed frontrunners for a ministry. It is understood both MPs are scheduled to undergo media training. The reshuffle chatter comes amid ongoing speculation as to whether the premier herself will stick it out for a full-term, especially with ICAC yet to release its report into her former lover Daryl Maguire. Ms Berejiklian has so far declared she intends to stay.
But then former long-serving Labor leader Bob Carr told reporters repeatedly he wouldn’t be quitting – until the day he did.
BIRTHDAY MIX-UP
WITH Covid forcing many ministers to work through summer, some are literally losing track of time. In the case of one particular NSW minister, the senior Liberal confessed to mixing up the date of his son’s birthday.
It is understood the balloons were being blown up ahead of the intended celebration when the minister was made aware by another member of the family that he was a day early. “I was told his birthday was tomorrow,” the minister said. “My son was kicking around the blown up balloons around and I had to tell him, sorry son, not today. “My wife thought it was very funny.”
RADIO LEADERS
HOT on the heels of senior Labor frontbencher and potential leadership contender Tanya Plibersek securing a new regular segment with Jim Wilson on 2GB, NSW Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean and Labor frontbencher Chris Minns have also joined the show as regulars.
The pair – regarded as future leaders within their own parties – will fill a regular 20 minute slot to discuss the issues facing the State.
WELCOME TREVOR
AFTER becoming a dad to Thomas last year, we can reveal Environment Minister Matt Kean has officially expanded the family.
The Sauce can reveal the Hornsby MP recently brought home a rescue turtle to celebrate his son’s first birthday – and it is understood “Trevor” has been a hit with the toddler. “He is always trying to say his name and pointing at him,” Kean said.
The turtle was acquired from the Turtle Rescues NSW in Valley Heights near the Blue
Mountains, which “rehomes” or saves animals displaced by development. Trevor is understood to be a Murray River Turtle.
GO WEST
IT WAS tried by former NSW ALP general secretary Sam Dastyari and now there is talk of again moving the party’s Sussex Street headquarters out to Paramatta.
Worried party staff say nothing formal has been announced, but that there is active chatter about a possible relocation.
Given the party’s apparent financial woes, some even speculate whether the party might sell part of its city outfit – although this would indeed be a drastic measure.
Stay tuned.
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