Why Chris Minns is backing his embattled Police Minister

Publicly, the NSW Premier says his Police Minister Yasmin Catley is doing an “incredibly good job”. But that’s just one part of the story.

ANALYSIS

Premier Chris Minns’ stoic backing of his embattled Police Minister is like an iceberg: his public defence of Yasmin Catley is only part of the story.

Blinkered to critics of the error-prone Police Minister, including from within his own party, Minns has a genuine belief that Catley is improving a beleaguered Police Force, and improving the lives of its employees.

He believes that recent criticism of his Minister is just white noise. But behind the scenes, he cannot afford to move her on.

Questions surrounding the process of appointing of former journalist Steve Jackson to run the Police Media Unit is the latest controversy growing like a mushroom cloud over the heads of Catley and Police Commissioner Karen Webb.

Catley first erred when she failed to address the tasering of 95-year old Great Grandmother Clare Nowland for days.

NSW Premier Chris Minns, right, has again backed his Police Minister Yasmin Catley, left. Pictures: News Corp

She erred again with the bungled handling of a pro-Palestinian protest at the Opera House after Hamas’ October 7 terror attacks.

Catley’s previous blunders have been driven by her staunch belief in keeping “operational” Police matters at arms’ length of the government.

The latest controversy is a direct result of the Minister’s office abandoning that protocol.

The Premier has stuck by his Minister before and is continuing to now, giving a guarantee on Monday that Catley would keep her job, even saying she would stay in the portfolio until the next election.

Premier Chris Minns said he can “guarantee” Ms Catley will stay in her job. Picture: NCA NewsWire

“She’s doing an incredibly good job in difficult circumstances,” he said.

He specifically cited a recruitment scheme paying student officers $30,000 to while they study to become cops as one of Catley’s achievements.

Privately, Minns’ hands are tied.

There is hardly a wealth of talent on Minns’ frontbench. The ministers who would be up to the Police portfolio already have their hands full in other crucial areas.

Tapping Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dibb to step up would likely attract criticism from some over his stance on the Israel-Gaza war.

Police Commissioner Karen Webb said she asked Ms Catley’s chief of staff for help when appointing her new media boss. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Appointing someone straight from the backbench to the high-profile Police portfolio would be internally fraught, and demoting Catley could spark backlash from Labor’s Left faction which Minns needs to keep on board.

Both Webb and Catley insist that suggestions their relationship has broken down are wrong. Webb says the relationship is “great”. Catley said it is “top notch”.

They even shared Thai takeaway together on Monday night.

Those close to Minns have told him to avoid sparking a reshuffle for as long as possible.

But he needs to be wary about sticking the course, and aware of any obstacles ahead.

Originally published as Why Chris Minns is backing his embattled Police Minister