The voters of NSW delivered strong message to Premier Mike Baird. That message was “Get on with the job!”
Just days after the NSW election many journalists, political insiders and commentators were making their predictions on who would be the winners and losers from a certain cabinet reshuffle. The expectation was for big changes, but many were surprised or disappointed with the outcome.
Political editor for The Daily Telegraph Andrew Clennell even commented in his article on April 7, 2015: ‘Bovver boy Mike Baird gets square’.
“It’s clear who the losers are in this latest cabinet, with Stuart Ayres, Victor Dominello, Pru Goward and Matt Kean among them.
Despite all of the moderate Kean’s number crunching capability and naked ambition, he has been left high and dry without a ministry, perhaps for doing the numbers for Gladys Berejiklian prior to Baird deciding to take the top job last year.
Victor Dominello has always been a Berejiklian supporter. His friends had hopes he could be promoted to Attorney-General but he has instead been made minister for “better regulation” – “whatever the hell that is,” as one MP put it.
The ambitious Ayres, who had premature designs on one day becoming Premier, has sport, tourism and trade, which at least allows him some overseas travel, but loses the job he wanted to hang on to — police (perhaps not surprisingly given he missed the police legacy ball to attend a footy final last year).
Likewise the NSW Government Gazette shows Pru Goward’s new ministry for the prevention of domestic violence and sexual assault, as important as the issue is, does not administer a single act of parliament. Nor does her ministry for women, nor does her role as assistant health minister.
One MP rather unkindly likened it to Goward being given “a desk without a telephone” — although she disagrees.”
Many have looked at the new cabinet composition and come to the conclusion the Premier was handed a list of names on who would stay, go and come in – questioning whether those Ministers selected are really the best the Coalition has to offer? This was an opportunity for Baird to have a new look cabinet, rather than play musical chairs with same old faces from the Barry O’Farrell days.
Unfortunately, no additional women were elevated to cabinet. This was a lost opportunity to appoint solid performers like Tanya Davies MP (Mulgoa) who was only elevated to a Parliamentary Secretary. Cabinet also missed out on MPs such as John Sidoti MP (Drummoyne), Garath Ward MP (Kiama) and Jonathan O’Dea (Davidson), but at least they also were made Parliamentary Secretaries. These MPs did well in the state swing against the coalition on March 28 and have been excellent local representatives.
As expected, The Sydney Morning Herald reported a slightly different spin on the reshuffle:
“Cabinet winners and losers
Winners
Gladys Berejiklian, treasurer (Liberal): the deputy party leader, she performed strongly in the transport portfolio, successfully implementing big policies such as the Opal Card rollout and completion of the south-west rail line ahead of schedule and under budget. She will oversee the complex poles and wires lease.
Gabrielle Upton, attorney-general (Liberal): The member for Vaucluse. A former banker and lawyer with an MBA who successfully took on the tough family and community services portfolio, including the controversial Millers Point public housing sell off.
Niall Blair, primary industries, lands and water (Nationals): An upper house MP and former party chairman who is considered a solid, effective parliamentary performer and part of the promising younger generation of Nationals talent. He joins cabinet for the first time.
Mark Speakman, environment, heritage, assistant planning (Liberal) – From the party’s left faction. A senior counsel valued for his legal mind, who is considered one of the Liberal Party’s rising stars. This is his first cabinet role.
David Elliott, corrections, emergency services, veteran affairs (Liberal): The Baulkham Hills MP, of the party’s centre right faction, has been elevated to cabinet for the first time. He is a former army captain and winner of the Australian Defence Medal.
Leslie Williams, early childhood education, Aboriginal affairs, assistant minister for education (Nationals): A strong local advocate and hardworking MP who was parliamentary secretary for renewable energy.
Losers
Katrina Hodgkinson (Nationals): The Burrinjuck MP lost the primary industries portfolio, after the party underwent bruising battles in the last term of Parliament over coal seam gas and laws preventing farmers from clearing their land.
Kevin Humphries (Nationals): The Barwon MP lost the portfolios of natural resources, Western NSW and lands and water. His standing was also damaged by the party’s handling of coal seam gas and native vegetation policies.
Jai Rowell (Liberal): The Wollondilly MP, a leader of the party’s right faction, was stripped of his mental health portfolio. Mr Rowell was considered a low-profile minister and ran foul of Premier Mike Baird over an upper house preselection stoush.
Matthew Mason-Cox (Liberal): An upper house MP and factional ally of Jai Rowell, he has been stripped of the fair trading portfolio”
Source: Sean Nicholls and Nicole Hasham, SMH, NSW Premier Mike Baird shapes his cabinet to implement his poles and wires plan, 2 April 2015.
Perhaps the biggest disappointment for many on the Conservative side of politics was the ousting of Mathew Mason-Cox – Fair Trading minister and Jai Rowell – Mental Health Minister from Cabinet. Both these men were only given less than 12 months to make a mark on their portfolio, with the distraction of an election looming.
The Conservatives have gradually lost representation in ministerial appointments going back to the previous term when Greg Smith was dropped as Attorney General, and Sports Minister Graham Annesley resigned from parliament.
Many Conservatives, who see themselves as the mainstream membership of the Liberal Party, would like to see the factional influence and imbalance addressed by the Premier.