Premier Gladys Berejiklian takes on Don Harwin’s four portfolios
When Don Harwin handed in his resignation last week following his COVID-19 lockdown breach, he left behind four portfolios. But instead of assigning them to other ministers, Premier Gladys Berejiklian stepped up — for the time being at least.
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Premier Gladys Berejiklian will take on all four of Harwin’s portfolios following his resignation on Friday, delaying a ministerial reshuffle until after the coronavirus pandemic eases.
It is understood the Premier does not want the distraction of ministers jostling for positions during the health and economic crisis.
Senior moderate Mr Harwin tendered his resignation late Friday after being fined $1000 for breaching lockdown restrictions to visit his Pearl Beach holiday home.
His portfolios also include the Special Minister of State and Public Service and Employee Relations roles.
The future reshuffle could see Families, Communities and Disability Services Minister Gareth Ward moved to a new role after yet another bizarre incident whereby he was found wandering around his apartment complex by police, naked and disoriented.
Mr Ward blamed being under general anaesthetic for a procedure undertaken earlier in the day for the incident.
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Ms Berejiklian may also see fit to move on Transport Minister Andrew Constance, given his announcement that he will not be contesting the next election, and there remains the cabinet vacancy left by former Sports Minister John Sidoti, who is standing aside while he is investigated by the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption.
HARWIN’S HOUSE GUEST COOKS UP A STORM
He was the mystery house guest pictured with former arts minister Don Harwin at the frontbencher’s Pearl Beach holiday last week — and quickly unveiled to be former Sydney Liberal candidate Geoffrey Winters.
Just what he was doing in Harwin’s Airbnb abode given house visits are banned is still unknown with Winters apparently not responding to media calls.
But while the general public may not know much about Winters, staffers on both sides of politics in NSW and Canberra are familiar with the Sydney lawyer — especially his cooking.
According to one Labor source, Winters has been cooking up a storm on Instagram stories, showcasing such feasts as fried chicken and roast.
“He’s been posting some amazing cooking videos on Instagram,” one Labor staffer remarked last week.
“I was wondering who he was cooking for.”
Another Canberra adviser was quick to reveal Winters as the Liberal rival of Sydney MP Tanya Plibersek.
The Sauce emailed Winters via his Chalk and Behrendt Lawyers and Consultants contact details without luck.
His connection to Harwin may have something to do with the minister’s Aboriginal Affairs portfolio.
Winters’ legal profile says he assists in “land claim appeals, native title, administrative and government law”.
A profile piece published in 2016 when he was having a tilt at politics noted his admiration for Harwin, whom he reportedly described as his most influential political mentor.
CRUISE CONSPIRACY
While journalists have attempted to unravel what really happened in the hours before passengers were allowed to disembark the ill-fated Ruby Princess, social media has been abuzz with its own theory.
According to multiple social media “news” accounts, the real reason the federal government gave the cruise ship the green-light to dock was because on board were relatives of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s right-hand man, federal minister Alex Hawke.
The claims suggest Mr Hawke’s in-laws were on the cruise ship along with a group of Hillsong parishioners from his Mitchell electorate in Sydney’s Hills Shire.
After being asked about the claim on multiple occasions last week, The Sauce decided to investigate.
It can be revealed Mr Hawke’s in-laws have not only never been on a cruise, but are, in fact, divorced.
Other left-wing media outlets suggested it was Hawke’s parents on board the ship. As those close to Hawke know, his mother passed away when he was 10. As for his father Richard, a source close to the Centre Right powerbroker declared: “He’s never left the country.”
That leaves the Hillsong parishioners. Stay tuned.
SPOT CHECKS
Federal cabinet ministers are not immune from spot checks by police as Veterans Affairs Minister Darren Chester discovered last week.
The National Party MP was stopped by NSW Police at Cooma, about 100km south of Canberra, after leaving Parliament House for his Victorian electorate on Thursday. The police wanted to know why Chester was on the road ahead of the long weekend.
HEY SIRI
Labor leader Anthony Albanese is used to being heckled in the House of Representatives, but not by Siri.
The voice-activated iPhone assistant interrupted the Labor leader in parliament on Wednesday as he addressed the house about COVID-19.
Siri had misheard the words “a series” for “hey Siri” and replied “I’m on it” before she started informing the house about the second amendment.
Albo pushed on but behind him, colleagues, including former Labor leader Bill Shorten, couldn’t hide their smiles
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Originally published as Premier Gladys Berejiklian takes on Don Harwin’s four portfolios