Labor MPs facing cut in Chris Minns’ cabinet cull

NSW Premier Chris Minns will likely thrust incoming Monaro MP Steve Whan straight into cabinet but other ambitious backbenchers will be forced to wait.

NSW Premier Chris Minns is expected to cut his cabinet back when he announces his full ministry next week. Picture: NCA Newswire/ Monique Harmer

NSW Premier Chris Minns will likely thrust incoming Monaro MP Steve Whan straight into cabinet, but other ambitious backbenchers will be forced to wait amid expectations the enlarged ministry will be cut back.

Mr Minns was sworn-in as the 47th premier of NSW alongside his senior leadership team at Government House on Tuesday, meaning a number of important portfolios have already been allocated, including treasurer, education, health, transport environment, roads and arts.

Ahead of the swearing-in of the full ministry next week, senior Labor sources said a major reshuffle was unlikely as Mr Minns rewarded the frontbench who delivered the party into government after 12 years in the wilderness.

While Mr Minns is understood to be keeping cabinet deliberations close to his chest, Labor sources believed the existing shadow ministry of 25 MPs was too unwieldy and would need to be cut down to size, meaning ambitious backbenchers were unlikely to see a promotion.

One Labor source said historically, the size of state Labor governments’ cabinets had been between 20 to 22 ministers, meaning three or four shadow ministers could be dropped into parliamentary secretary roles.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, multiple Labor sources pointed to Jenny Aitchison, Julia Finn and Tim Crakanthorp as the current frontbenchers most likely facing demotions.

Some changes would be forced out of necessity.

Already handling the planning portfolio, Paul Scully was given responsibility for police after Walt Secord resigned from the frontbench amid bullying accusations in August last year, and one Labor source said he was likely to be relieved of one given the significant workload each carried.

Likewise natural resources, the portfolio of Tania Mihailuk before she abruptly quit the party in October last year. Industry insiders expected Ms Houssos would continue in the role after she was handed the reins in the aftermath of Ms Mihailuk’s departure from the frontbench.

Mr Scully, Jodie Harrison, Yasmin Catley and Courtney Houssos were all identified by one Labor insider as shadow ministers deserving of a promotion.

With longstanding rural Labor MP Mick Veitch’s hopes of securing a spot in the Legislative Council fading, his current portfolios of agriculture, regional NSW and western NSW would require a replacement.

Senior Labor sources said Mr Whan – who surprised party onlookers by winning the seat of Monaro, encompassing a southern inland sliver of the state, on a 15 per cent swing against the Nationals – was the obvious replacement in his return to parliament.

About to commence his second stint in Macquarie Street, Mr Whan is only one of three Labor MPs with experience in government, after he served as Minister primary industries and rural affairs for two years until 2011 during the dying days of Kristina Keneally’s premiership.

Mr Daley and MLC Peter Primrose are the other two who served in cabinet alongside Mr Whan.

Cessnock MP Clayton Barr was flagged as another possible candidate for the difficult portfolios, but Labor sources said his lack of factional alliance may count against him.

Mr Whan stepped into the Monaro race after the party’s preferred candidate, Canberra Raiders legend Terry Campese, was forced to withdraw amid a series of revelations about his personal life, including footage from a private sex-themed party and questions over a visit to a convicted drug dealing friend in jail.

The limited changes meant aspiring and highly regarded MPs like Jason Yat-Sen Li and the incoming Stephen Lawrence, would be forced to wait in the wings.