Premier Chris Minns again guarantees Yasmin Catley will keep her job as Police Minister

Premier Chris Minns is again staring down critics of his Police Minister — including some inside his own ranks — with her office embroiled in the Police Commissioner’s spin doctor saga.

• Why Minns won’t sack Catley

Premier Chris Minns has delivered a guarantee that embattled Police Minister Yasmin Catley will keep her job despite growing unrest from Labor ranks about her performance.

Multiple Labor MPs privately think the Premier should haul in Ms Catley to demand she lifts her game to provide a “circuit breaker” after she was embroiled in the saga over the appointment of former Seven journalist Steve Jackson’s appointment as Police Commissioner Karen Webb’s chief spin doctor.

Ms Webb confirmed on Monday that Ms Webb’s chief of staff suggested Mr Jackson for the role.

She told 2GB’s Ray Hadley that she asked the Minister’s Chief of Staff for advice on the appointment.

“I asked the minister’s chief of staff, who’s been around in this game for a long time,” Ms Webb said.

NSW Premier Chris Minns, right, has again backed his Police Minister Yasmin Catley, left. Pictures: News Corp

“Ross used to run the police media unit many years ago, so he was an ideal person to ask … he gave me a couple of suggestions and I followed up with Steve (and) interviewed Steve.”

She confirmed Mr Jackson was appointed for six months before he was fully vetted and announced that more thorough checks are now taking place.

Police Commissioner Karen Webb on Monday. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

A number of Labor MPs and some police sources have complained about Ms Catley’s performance, specifically noting that she has failed to provide political cover for the under-fire commissioner.

Ms Catley’s critics believe that repeated blunders – including on the process which led to Mr Jackson’s appointment – are blowing back on the government.

Mr Minns emphatically backed Ms Catley on Tuesday, guaranteeing she will stay in the job.

Mr Minns said Ms Catley will stay in the Police portfolio until the election. Picture: NCA NewsWire

“Will you guarantee she’ll remain in the job?” Mr Minns was asked.

“Yes, I can,” he said.

“How long will she remain in that job … until the next election?”

“Yeah, absolutely,” he said.

“She’s doing an incredibly good job in difficult circumstances.”

Mr Minns cited a training subsidy for officers, which was “demanded” of the government by Ms Webb and Ms Catley, as a main reason for his continued faith in the minister.

“I genuinely have faith in their (Ms Webb and Ms Catley’s) plans for the NSW Police Force.”

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Originally published as Premier Chris Minns again guarantees Yasmin Catley will keep her job as Police Minister