Perrottet promotes women to cabinet

NSW Premier elevates number of women in cabinet while creating new portfolios focusing on science, cities and home ownership.

Miranda MP Eleni Petinos is the new NSW Fair Trading and Small Business Minister.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has elevated the number of women in his cabinet while creating a raft of critical new portfolios focusing on science, cities and home ownership, in a new-look ministry intended to lead the government into the 2023 election.

The long-awaited cabinet reshuffle will see the appointment of nine first-time ministers across the Liberal Party and the Nationals, all of whom were informed of their promotions on Sunday night in calls with Mr Perrottet and Deputy Premier Paul Toole.

Having committed to improving the representation of women in his ministry, Mr Perrottet has doubled the number of Liberal women at the cabinet table – from two to four – on what he inherited from Gladys Berejiklian, who resigned in October.

Jointly with the Nationals, the ministry will contain seven women in total, more than that of any Coalition government elected since 2011, and equal the number of women appointed by the Keneally Labor government in 2009.

In a significant move, Mr Toole will take on the role of Police Minister in addition to his responsibilities as Nationals leader, Minister for Regional NSW and Deputy Premier.

Police Minister David Elliott, in that portfolio since 2019, has been named Transport Minister and will also pick up responsibility for the state’s veterans.

Bronnie Taylor, the Nationals deputy leader, will add Minister for Regional Health to her portfolios of Women and Mental Health, while Liberal deputy Stuart Ayres will take back the coveted Sport portfolio, which he held in the Baird government.

Mr Perrottet described his cabinet as the “best team to lead NSW out of the pandemic”, saying it would “work hard every day to serve the great people of our state”. Mr Toole said he was proud of the talent emerging through the Nationals and was sure those anointed would bring “fresh ideas to our government”.

Planning Minister Rob Stokes will also become Minister for Cities, tasked with delivery of the government’s vision for six major urban population centres spanning Sydney, Wollongong, the central coast and Newcastle.

Anthony Roberts, currently Corrections Minister, will be elevated to the Planning portfolio and will also be named the Minister for Homes, a role intended to emphasise the need for home ownership.

“We will bring a renewed focus to making that dream a reality,” Mr Perrottet said.

Alister Henskens, the Minister for Families and Community Services, will be appointed Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, with a responsibility to promote jobs growth and advanced manufacturing.

Other adjustments include the shifting of Hospitality and Gaming back to the Nationals – from Digital Minister Victor Dominello to newly appointed Lands and Water Minister Kevin Anderson, who was formerly Minister for Better Regulation.

Matt Kean will remain Treasurer and Minister for Energy, but his Environment portfolio will be handed to Manly MP James Griffin. Other fresh faces include Miranda MP Eleni Petinos, who will be appointed Fair Trading and Small Business Minister, and Oatley MP Mark Coure, who has been promoted to Minister for Seniors and Multiculturalism.

Goulburn MP Wendy Tuckerman replaces Shelley Hancock as Local Government Minister while Natasha Maclaren-Jones, now a cabinet secretary, becomes Minister for Families and Communities, as well as Disabilities.

Cootamundra MP Steph Cooke takes on Emergency Services while her Nationals upper house colleague, Ben Franklin, has been appointed Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Arts and Regional Youth.

Upper House Nationals MP Sam Farraway has been named Regional Transport and Roads Minister and Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders replaces Adam Marshall as the Minister for Agriculture.