STATE CABINET: 29 JANUARY 2017

Baird, Grant and now Toole … the architects of forced amalgamations are gone

This morning’s Cabinet reshuffle by Gladys Berejiklian has seriously changed the shape of government in NSW.

From the point of Cabonne and forced council amalgamations, the big news is the removal of Paul Toole, the National Party Member for Bathurst, as Minister for Local Government.

That portfolio has been taken over by Gabrielle Upton, the Liberal Member for Vaucluse, whose seat includes the firebrand local-government enclave of Woollahra.

From the point of view of the National Party, the bad news is the loss of two senior ministries to the Liberals — Local Government and Education, which has passed from Adrian Piccoli to Robert Stokes.

The full text of the Coalition’s media release follows:

New Cabinet will deliver for everyone in NSW

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Deputy Premier John Barilaro today announced a fresh team that will ensure every community gets its fair share of the State’s economic success.

“Our new team will work hard to make life easier for people right across NSW,” Ms Berejiklian said.

There are seven new faces in a Cabinet that will deliver the benefits of six years of strong economic management to everyone in NSW — four Liberals and three Nationals.

Mr Barilaro said the new Nationals ministers would bring a fresh approach and energy to an already experienced ministry.

“As partners in the NSW Coalition Government, it is the job of my Cabinet Ministers to ensure that the people of regional NSW get their fair share of services and infrastructure and we are determined to deliver for them,” Mr Barilaro said.

The Premier said the new team would make sure each community across the State receives the services and infrastructure it needs.

“We will deliver local infrastructure and services on the ground, to every corner of the State, maintain a strong economy and ensure we tackle major challenges such as housing affordability,” Ms Berejiklian said.

For the first time, there will be a dedicated Minister for Counter Terrorism as well as a dedicated Minister for Australia’s largest infrastructure project, WestConnex.

The Deputy Premier will take on the role of Minister for Regional NSW, along with the Skills and Small Business portfolios.

Ms Berejiklian and Mr Barilaro thanked outgoing ministers Adrian Piccoli, Jillian Skinner, Duncan Gay, John Ajaka and Leslie Williams for their service to NSW.

The new Cabinet will be sworn in at Government House tomorrow afternoon.

New South Wales Cabinet list of Ministers

The Honourable Gladys Berejiklian MP: Premier

The Honourable (John) Giovanni Domenic Barilaro MP: Deputy Premier, Minister for Regional New South Wales, Minister for Skills, and Minister for Small Business

The Honourable Dominic Francis Perrottet MP: Treasurer, and Minister for Industrial Relations

The Honourable Niall Mark Blair MLC: Minister for Primary Industries, Minister for Regional Water, and Minister for Trade and Industry

The Honourable Donald Thomas Harwin MLC: Minister for Resources, Minister for Energy and Utilities, Minister for the Arts, and Vice-President of the Executive Council

The Honourable Anthony John Roberts MP: Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing, and Special Minister of State

The Honourable Andrew James Constance MP: Minister for Transport and Infrastructure

The Honourable Bradley Ronald Hazzard MP: Minister for Health, and Minister for Medical Research

The Honourable Robert Gordon Stokes MP: Minister for Education

The Honourable Mark Raymond Speakman SC MP: Attorney General

The Honourable Troy Wayne Grant MP: Minister for Police, and Minister for Emergency Services

The Honourable Victor Michael Dominello MP: Minister for Finance, Services and Property

The Honourable Prudence Jane Goward MP: Minister for Family and Community Services, Minister for Social Housing, and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

The Honourable Paul Lawrence Toole MP: Minister for Lands and Forestry, and Minister for Racing

The Honourable David Andrew Elliott MP: Minister for Counter Terrorism, Minister for Corrections, and Minister for Veterans Affairs

The Honourable Gabrielle Cecilia Upton MP: Minister for the Environment, Minister for Local Government, and Minister for Heritage

The Honourable Stuart Laurence Ayres MP: Minister for Western Sydney, Minister for WestConnex, and Minister for Sport

The Honourable Melinda Jane Pavey MP: Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight

The Honourable Matthew John Kean MP: Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation

The Honourable Adam John Marshall MP: Minister for Tourism and Major Events, and Assistant Minister for Skills

The Honourable Tanya Davies MP: Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Women, and Minister for Ageing

The Honourable Sarah Mitchell MLC: Minister for Early Childhood Education, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and Assistant Minister for Education

The Honourable Raymond Craig Williams MP: Minister for Multiculturalism, and Minister for Disability Services

Parliamentary office holders

The Honourable John Ajaka MLC: President of the Legislative Council (elect)

The Honourable Shelley Elizabeth Hancock MP: Speaker of the Legislative Assembly

The Honourable Trevor John Khan MLC: Deputy President and Chair of Committees

The Honourable Thomas George MP: Deputy Speaker

Mr Andrew Raymond Gordon Fraser MP: Assistant Speaker

The Honourable Donald Thomas Harwin MLC: Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council

The Honourable Anthony John Roberts MP: Leader of the House

The Honourable Niall Mark Blair MLC: Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council

Mr Christopher Stewart Patterson MP: Government Whip

The Honourable Natasha Maclaren-Jones MLC: Government Whip in the Legislative Council

Based on media release issued by Gladys Berejiklian’s office.