NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian cancels proposed reshuffle of cabinet

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has cancelled a proposed reshuffle of her cabinet scheduled for late March.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian speaks to media at Parliament House in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has cancelled a proposed reshuffle of her cabinet scheduled for late March, according to government officials, who say the decision was influenced largely by concerns over the imminent rollout of the state’s COVID-19 vaccinations.

Ms Berejiklian had originally flagged an intention to reshuffle her cabinet last year at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to accomodate the prospective retirement of Health Minister Brad Hazzard.

Mr Hazzard, who has been a member of parliament for almost 30 years, and who has been central to the state’s pandemic response, flagged an intention to retire from politics last year.

He has since decided to remain in his position, an official familiar with the matter said, in order to stay and oversee the rollout of vaccines, which is expected to begin on Monday starting with 35,000 health and quarantine workers.

The delivery of the inoculations has been described by some officials as a significant test for the Berejiklian government and the Morrison government nationally. They said the outcome was likely to have a negative influence on public opinion if the rollout was handled poorly; this would then influence any decision to call a federal election later this year.

“Everyone is sitting there going, ‘Get this f…king right,” an official said.

Ms Berejiklian flagged the possibility of a reshuffle during May last year when two members of her cabinet – Andrew Constance and John Barilaro - began jostling for a vacancy in federal parliament created by the resignation of former MP Mike Kelly in the seat of Eden-Monaro.

The threat of a reshuffle was designed to put colleagues “on notice”, a second official close to the premier said at the time.

Minister for Health Brad Hazzard during Question Time in the Legislative Assembly at New South Wales Parliament House in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Neither Mr Barilaro nor Mr Constance ended up standing as candidates, but the ensuing brinkmanship between them led to a rebuke from Ms Berejiklian and, in the case of Mr Constance, the stripping of a prestigious parliamentary title.

“When the worst of the pandemic is over there will be a wider reshuffle,” the official said at the time.

Originally timed for late 2020, the reshuffle was delayed following Ms Berejiklian’s appearance at a corruption inquiry in October, the fallout of which briefly threatened her leadership. It was then moved to March, only to be stalled again by Mr Hazzard’s decision to stay in politics – at least for the time being.

Mr Hazzard declined to comment when approached on the matter.

In addition to the prospective vacancy expected to be created by Mr Hazzard’s eventual departure, a further trigger for a reshuffle remains an outcome in the ongoing matter of John Sidoti, the sidelined minister who is under investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

Mr Sidoti stood himself aside as Sports, Multiculturalism, Seniors and Veterans minister in September 2019 as the ICAC began examining his property interests. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Ms Berejiklian has been unwilling to formally stand down Mr Sidoti while the investigation into his affairs is unresolved. An official said doing so would also raise questions in the event that her own appearance at the ICAC results in any adverse findings or formal criticism.