Premier Dominic Perrottet looks to lessons of Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Labor PM Paul Keating
New Premier Dominic Perrottet has revealed the unlikely role models he is using life lessons from as he works to rebuild a post-pandemic NSW into a powerhouse with heart.
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Premier Dominic Perrottet has drawn from the teachings of an unlikely duo in his mission to guide the state out of the pandemic — Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos and former Labor PM Paul Keating.
Mr Perrottet referenced the former as he outlined how the first of the five planks of the refocused Coalition government would be putting people first.
Mr Perrottet said he wanted the public to be the focus of government decision-making.
“Bezos has an empty chair in the boardroom to represent the most important person in that meeting — the customer,” he said.
“I want that to be our focus. We need to build services around people, not government. I want to put the service back in the public service. My message to everyone in the public service is that we are here to serve.”
As part of the shake-up, Mr Perrottet has begun attending meetings of the heads of government departments in the same way former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett did when he assembled his elite “Black Cabinet” of senior public servants.
In NSW, the so-called “secretaries board” has always existed and met, but Mr Perrottet will now attend the meetings every six weeks.
“The idea is every six weeks I’ll be meeting with the secretaries – the department heads – to drive the government, to ensure the focus is on the public, the needs and aspirations of middle Australia,” he said.
“I have already met with them for the first time. Instead of just meeting with the Department of Premier and Cabinet, they’ll be meeting with me.”
HEARTS AND MINDS
He then referenced the iconic former Labor leader as he laid out how he wanted his Coalition governments to not only retain the two parties’ reputation for a focus on the economy, but to “have a heart” while doing it.
As former prime minister Keating is understood to have once lectured: “I have to teach my bastards about money, you have to teach your bastards about people.”
Mr Perrottet — who still regularly speaks with Mr Keating, along with Liberal Party elders such as John Howard — said he ascribed to the principle that the sign of a “good society (was) how it treated its most vulnerable”.
“We’ve been getting a lot better at it. We put record money into social affordable housing, getting people from sleeping rough.”
This also goes to having a more compassionate, health approach to people with drug addiction. It is expected the government’s response will have “a lot more heart” with improved drug rehabilitation services.
PEOPLE FIRST
The focus on “middle Australia” comes as Mr Perrottet, a father of six, moves to convince voters that his government understands their challenges.
“Middle Australia needs a lobby group,” he said.
“Labor has become too focused on the inner-city elite.
“We are going to focus on middle Australia — families, young people, helping them get ahead. That’s how we make NSW great.”
HAZZARD URGED TO STAY ON IN HEALTH
Mr Perrottet may have locked horns with Health Minister Brad Hazzard during the pandemic but the new Liberal leader believes the veteran frontbencher is the best man for the job.
As Coalition MPs prepare to learn of their fate in the upcoming reshuffle, The Sunday Telegraph can reveal Mr Perrottet has asked Mr Hazzard to stay on in the challenging health portfolio. The request — which Mr Hazzard has accepted — puts an end to long-held speculation the Wakehurst MP might head to the backbench, or resign.
The move is part of a “less centric” leadership approach Mr Perrottet is planning to adopt — in contrast to that of his predecessor Gladys Berejiklian — with a greater focus on teamwork.
In an exclusive interview, Mr Perrottet outlined how he planned to put his own stamp on the government as it prepares to fight for what will be a historic fourth term.
LEADERSHIP
Ministers in the new Perrottet frontbench will be “passionate, proactive and empowered”.
“I want new ways of doing things,” the Premier said.
“I want new ideas, thinking outside the box, looking at new ways of doing things. The new team will have a mix of experience.
“And I am the premier, not the president. I see myself only as the first among equals, and that’s why I want to have my ministerial team empowered.”
Mr Perrottet, who confirmed the reshuffle would occur before the end of the year, said the acceptance of Mr Hazzard to stay on in the health portfolio came at yet another critical point in the ongoing fight against Covid, with growing concerns about the new variant Omnicron from South Africa.
Mr Perrottet, with his focus on the economy, and Mr Hazzard, who relied on the counsel of NSW Health’s chief health officer, often butted heads in the special Covid crisis “cabinet”.
However, the former treasurer said he had a “deep respect” for the long-serving Liberal frontbencher.
“While we’ve disagreed with each other, we’ve grown a deep respect with each other,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Importantly — and what the public don’t see and what I have witnessed — is what has been a tireless dedication to keep people safe.
“What this new variant shows is Covid is not over and it’s important we have continuity. He has the energy and experience.”
As for the crisis cabinet, one of the first things Mr Perrottet did when he took on the job of premier early last month was to abolish it in favour of a Covid recovery committee.
It can be revealed Mr Perrottet has also established a subcommittee of cabinet focused on strategy.
The senior ministers taking part in the committee have already met several times, with the group focused on addressing the big issues facing the government.
“I wanted it because there are issues that sit in the too-hard basket,” he said.
“Cabinet can be too big. This is a smaller group of people debating and having discussions about the strategic priorities facing NSW and troubleshooting problems that arise.”
RESTORING IMAGINATION
Mr Perrottet blamed a lack of “imagination” for governments not embracing bold ideas. and said the infrastructure boom of the past decade should be a case of “business as usual” for governments.
“For decades there has been a lack of imagination in public life,” he said.
“Infrastructure … shouldn’t come after decades of neglect. We can’t go back to that. Building schools, hospitals, public transport and roads is what governments should be doing.
“The future is built on the flow of new ideas, imagination leading to big bold ideas, which are the fuel of public policy.”
UNITY
As tensions flared across the country again over vaccination and freedoms — and also in Canberra over a religious freedom bill and a national corruption watchdog — Mr Perrottet declared “bringing people together” would be his final plank of government.
“I don’t want a divided NSW,” he said. “Leaders have a responsibility to bring people together.”
Referencing the Western Sydney lockdowns, Mr Perrottet blamed the use of “divisive language” for “pitting communities against communities”.
“There are things that people say on social media they would never say to someone’s face and we need to rise above that as political leaders.
“There is nothing wrong with good debate and political leaders have a responsibility to drive that.”
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Originally published as Premier Dominic Perrottet looks to lessons of Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Labor PM Paul Keating
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