By Michael Koziol
One by one, under the immortalised gaze of Queen Mary, the grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II, they rose to take the oath. Some swore under God, others not – one, for the first time, clutched the Bhagavad Gita, a holy Hindu scripture.
The last time a Labor government was sworn into office inside NSW Government House was 2007, with Marie Bashir presiding and Morris Iemma signing his name. In an early sign of the disastrous fourth term to come, the ceremony was overshadowed by Iemma dumping a would-be minister on the day he was due for promotion after allegations against him were referred to police.
NSW Governor Margaret Beazley and Premier Chris Minns immediately after the swearing-in.Credit: Dan Himbrechts
There were no such snags for Premier Chris Minns on Tuesday, although his lower house majority was receding further with each passing minute. Watched by wife Anna, the 43-year-old pledged his allegiance under God to Australia and the people of NSW, and swore – as they all did – to perform his duties faithfully and to the best of his abilities.
Having just endured the ordeal of an election campaign, they probably didn’t need reminding, but NSW Governor Margaret Beazley emphasised how hard Minns’ team had worked to make it to the highest offices in the state.
All politicians were prodigious workers, she said. “We as a community need to acknowledge that, and we are very grateful for it.” It was, she told them, a unique moment in their lives – and they should savour it before the really hard work began.
Beazley, a judge who was previously president of the NSW Court of Appeal, also said she was a very strong proponent of compulsory voting, which gave the incoming government the imprimatur of the whole state.
The interim Minns cabinet: Michael Daley, Prue Car, John Graham, Chris Minns, Daniel Mookhey, Ryan Park, Penny Sharpe and Jo Haylen – with Governor Margaret Beazley. Credit: Jessica Hromas
Environment and Heritage Minister Penny Sharpe, in her 18th year in the upper house, became the first lesbian to be sworn into the NSW cabinet, watched proudly by her partner Jo Tilly.
Treasurer and Minister for the Gig Economy, Daniel Mookhey, became the first person sworn in on the Bhagavad Gita, and was joined by wife Tamsin Lloyd, who is Tanya Plibersek’s communications director.
Other ministers sworn into the interim cabinet were Deputy Premier and Education Minister Prue Car, Transport Minister Jo Haylen, Health Minister Ryan Park and Special Minister of State John Graham. All were new to the experience; the only person who had ever been sworn into a ministry before was former party leader Michael Daley, the attorney-general.
On conclusion of the formalities, Beazley said it was “truly an auspicious occasion”, and implored the new ministers to reacquaint themselves with the NSW Constitution – particularly section two, which recognises Aboriginal people, and section five, which empowers them to make laws for the “peace, welfare and good government” of the state.
“That is the pledge you have made,” Beazley said.
Making brief comments to reporters outside, the 47th premier acknowledged votes were still being counted and said his cabinet knew there was a huge responsibility on their shoulders.
“We don’t know the final composition of the next parliament, but my team and I are ready to hit the ground running, and we can’t wait for those responsibilities of office,” Minns said.
Car said voters had sent the new government a clear message, “and they want us to get straight to work”.
The full Minns ministry will be selected in the coming days and is expected to be sworn in early next week.
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