Former NSW arts minister Don Harwin’s court hearing fast-tracked

Don Harwin has been granted an exped­ited court hearing to contest his $1000 fine for allegedly breaching COVID-19 restrictions, raising the prospect of a NSW cabinet reshuffle.

Don Harwin was fined in April after allegedly commuting between Sydney and his holiday home on the NSW central coast when all non-essential travel was banned.

Former NSW arts minister Don Harwin has been granted an exped­ited court hearing to contest his $1000 infringement for allegedly breaching COVID-19 restrictions, raising the prospect of a minor cabinet reshuffle should he overturn the penalty.

But a much wider juggling of cabinet portfolios would likely take place in March next year, a senior government official said, although they added that this date could be brought forward if ­circumstances arose that made a reshuffle inevitable.

Mr Harwin will have his infringeme­nt notice heard at the Gosford Local Court on Friday, several months ahead of its original intended listing, October 28.

The Australian has been told the NSW Police Force handed the matter to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions due to its sensitivity.

Mr Harwin was fined by police in April after allegedly commuting between Sydney and his holiday home on the NSW central coast when the state’s residents were banned from all non-essential travel.

Since his resignation from cabinet, his portfolios, which included Aboriginal affairs, special minister of state and the public service, have been taken up by the Premier, Gladys Berejiklian.

A spokeswoman for the ODPP said the listing was spec­ially requested but declined to specify why it was expedited. “The ODPP can in certain circumsta­nces take over and appear­ in summary proceedings,” she said.

Mr Harwin did not respond to a request for comment. If he successfully overturns the fine, his prospects of re-entering cabinet will rise significantly, though will likely be met with disquiet among some coalition MPs.

“People don’t want him to be brought back,” said one Liberal MP. “The reality is if Don is reintroduced, there’s no opportunity for people to be promoted. It means there’s one less spot that’s legitimately up for grabs.”

Another MP said he would be glad to see Mr Harwin back.

A rumoured cabinet reshuffle has circulated through parliament for some months and has recently gained momentum due to uncertainty around several frontbench ministers.

This speculation intensified in May when the Premier, dumped Transport Minister Andrew­ Constance as Leader of the House, and put ministers on ­notice about a post-COVID reshuffle.

Mr Harwin’s court appeal remains a prominent trigger for a minor reshuffle of positions. Anothe­r is the investigation of former sports minister John Sidoti­, who stepped aside from cabinet over an Independent Commission against Corruption probe of his family’s property holdings.

Ms Berejiklian has made it clear she will not dump Mr Sidoti from cabinet until a finding from ICAC is formally made known.

One prospective line-up change could include the Health Minister, Brad Hazzard, who was elected to parliament in 1991 and has worked an intense schedule since the start of the pandemic. Some colleagues have suggested he may voluntarily step aside once the crisis has abated. Customer­ Service Minister Victor Dominello has been touted as a potential replacement.

Mr Constance’s role in cabin­et has also been questioned, though one senior figure said it was more than likely that he would retain his position.