Brad Hazzard and Rob Stokes embrace new roles in Berejiklian’s new cabinet

NEW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has put better ambulance services and housing affordability near the Northern Beaches Hospital among his top priorities for the peninsula.

Brad Hazzard in the Legislative Assembly. Picture: Cameron Richardson.

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NEW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has put better ambulance services and housing affordability near the Northern Beaches Hospital among his top priorities for the peninsula.

The Wakehurst MP and outgoing family and community services minister said there were a lot of overlaps with his former role.

He pointed to the need for greater access to health and mental health services for children in foster care.

Education Minister Rob Stokes. Picture: Adam Yip.

In June, the Manly Daily revealed residents north of Newport were often left without ambulance cover.

Mr Hazzard said he hoped to bring an “enhanced ambulance facility” to the peninsula’s north.

Mr Hazzard, a former planning minister, said he would use experience gained in that role to try to improve housing affordability for key workers near the new hospital.

Pittwater MP Rob Stokes said his move from planning to Education Minister was “a great new challenge”.

“It is the first day back for kids at school and I feel like it is my first day at school too,” he said.

“I am really keen to engage with kids, parents and principals — education is something as a father of young kids, I have a deep personal interest in.”

Mr Stokes said he would speak with every local principal to gauge educational needs on the peninsula.

He pointed to resource the sharing network set up by the Peninsula Community of Schools as an example of a possible model for other parts of NSW.

Jonathan O'Dea is the new Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier and the Treasurer.

Davidson MP Jonathan O’Dea welcomed his new role as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier and the Treasurer

“I hope to play a crucial role ... to steer NSW on a path of prosperity and good governance,” he said

In taking on the position, Mr Hazzard paid tribute to outgoing health minister Jillian Skinner saying “we have a lot to thank her for”.

“I know there has been some difficult times for her but she is a very close friend, and I worked with her through 16 tough years of opposition when the former Labor Government had so many health issues and were failing in every part of the state,” he said.

“I am a little saddened about the circumstances of her departure.”

However, he described it as “magic” that he would be in charge when the Northern Beaches Hospital comes to fruition next year.