Berejiklian Announces Reshuffled NSW Ministry; Stokes To Education, Hazzard Into Health

Gladys Berejiklian has announced her reshuffled ministry, following her elevation to NSW Premier last week.

Berejiklian

Two senior ministers have been dumped from the new ministry. Brad Hazzard will replace Jillian Skinner as Health Minister. Skinner announced her retirement from parliament late last week. Rob Stokes becomes Education Minister, following the dumping of Adrian Piccoli.

Roads minister Duncan Gay has also been dumped. He will be replaced by Melinda Pavey, one of three new women in the ministry. The other new women are Sarah Mitchell and Tanya Davies. The Nationals minister Leslie Williams has lost her position.

Matt Kean joins the ministry in the Innovation and Better Regulation portfolio.

As expected, the new Treasurer will be Dominic Perrottet, the former Finance minister.

Mark Speakman becomes Attorney-General, swapping places with Gabrielle Upton, who takes Speakman’s old portfolio of Environment.

Don Harwin, the current President of the Legislative Council, will become the government leader in the Legislative Council. The new President will be John Akaka, who has been moved out of the ministry.

Berejiklian announced the ministry at a press conference in Queanbeyan with her National Party deputy John Barilaro. The outdoor appearance was punctuated by interjections from protesters objecting to local council amalgamations. [Read more…]


Gladys Berejiklian Becomes 45th Premier Of NSW

Gladys Berejiklian has been sworn in as the 45th Premier of New South Wales, following her unopposed election as leader of the Liberal Party.

Berejiklian

Berejiklian, 46, is the second female premier of NSW and the first female Liberal Party premier in any Australian state.

She was elected unopposed at a meeting of the Liberal party-room this morning. Her deputy is Dominic Perrottet, 33. Their unopposed election followed an agreement between the conservative and moderate wings of the NSW Liberals.

Berejiklian was elected to the Legislative Assembly as the member for Willoughby in 2003. She was Minister for Transport from 2011 until 2015. She became deputy leader of the party in 2014 when Mike Baird replaced Barry O’Farrell as leader. She has been Treasurer and Minister for Industrial Relations since 2015. [Read more…]


Mike Baird Announces Resignation As NSW Premier

Mike Baird, the Liberal Premier of New South Wales, has announced that he is retiring.

Baird

Baird has been Premier since April 17, 2014, when he replaced Barry O’Farrell, who fell victim to an Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry.

Baird took the coalition government to its second successive victory at the election on March 28, 2015.

Recent controversies, especially the proposed banning of dog racing, have impacted on the government’s popularity. It lost a by-election in Orange to the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party last year.

Gladys Berejiklian is Baird’s most likely replacement. She is currently deputy leader, Treasurer and Minister for Industrial Relations.

The next premier will be the seventh in twelve years. Labor’s Bob Carr was the last premier to serve a full term. He retired in 2005.

At a press conference in Sydney, a tearful Baird said: “My father and my mother and my sister are going through a very serious health challenge…at times I have been in pain.”

He went on to say: “I didn’t want to become a career politician. I wanted to go as hard as I could for as long as I could and then step aside.” He denied he was cutting and running, citing his three years as Treasurer and three as Premier. He said he made the decision to resign in the last couple of weeks.


Mike Baird New NSW Premier; Elected Unopposed With Gladys Berejiklian As Deputy

3.30pm – The NSW Liberal Party has elected Mike Baird unopposed as its new leader. Gladys Berejiklian has been elected deputy leader, also unopposed.

Baird

Baird was sworn in as the 44th Premier of NSW at 6.17pm today, replacing Barry O’Farrell, who resigned yesterday after giving misleading evidence to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). [Read more…]