Barton Deakin Brief: NSW Government Leadership and Ministry changes
7 October 2021
NSW Government leadership changes
The leadership of the NSW Liberal National Coalition Government changed on the 5th and 6th of October, 2021.
On Friday 1st October NSW Premier, Liberal leader and Member for Willoughby Gladys Berejiklian announced that she would resign as Premier and Liberal leader.
Premier Berejiklian’s announcement followed the Independent Commission Against Corruption’s that “Operation Keppel”, an investigation of former Member for Wagga Wagga Daryl McGuire, would extend to an investigation of Ms Berejiklian, including her past personal relationship with Mr McGuire and the funding of projects in the Wagga Wagga electorate from 2016 to 2018.
On Monday 4th October the Deputy Premier, NSW Nationals leader and Member for Monaro John Barilaro announced that he would also resign.
Both Ms Berejiklian and Mr Barilaro also foreshadowed their resignation from the NSW Parliament, as did the Minister for Transport and Roads and Member for Bega Andrew Constance on Sunday 3rd October.
On Tuesday 5th October, Liberal members of the NSW Parliament elected NSW Treasurer and Member for Epping Dominic (Dom) Perrottet as leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party. Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney and Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres was elected unopposed as Deputy Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party. Mr Perrottet and Mr Ayres were sworn in as Premier of NSW and Minister, respectively, later that day.
On Wednesday 6th October the Nationals members of the NSW Parliament elected Minister for Regional Transport and Roads and Member for Bathurst Paul Toole as leader of the NSW Nationals. Minister for Mental Health, Regional Youth and Women and Member of the Legislative Council (Upper House) Bronnie Taylor was elected unopposed as Deputy Leader of the NSW Nationals. Mr Toole and Ms Taylor were sworn in as Deputy Premier and Ministers, with other government Ministers later that day.
NSW Government Ministry changes
NSW Premier Dom Perrottet announced on Wednesday 6th October a small number of necessary changes in Ministerial portfolios to maintain the NSW Government’s focus on recovery from the COVID-19 lockdown and on NSW citizens reclaiming freedoms. Portfolio vacancies arose due to resignations and Mr Perrottet’s accession to the leadership.
Premier Perrottet said that he planned to significantly refresh the Ministry over the coming summer months.
The following appointments on Wednesday 6th October were added to existing Ministerial responsibilities:
- Paul Toole as Deputy Premier added Minister for Regional New South Wales to his existing responsibilities as Minister for Regional Transport and Roads;
- Stuart Ayres added Minister for Trade and Industry to his existing responsibilities as Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney;
- Matt Kean added Treasurer to his existing responsibilities as Minister for Energy and the Environment; and
- Rob Stokes added Minister for Transport and Roads to his existing responsibilities as Minister for Planning and Public Spaces.
All other NSW government Ministers retained their existing responsibilities and were sworn in at Government House by the Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC.
For more information
To read Mr Perrottet’s statement after being elected NSW Liberal leader, click here.
To read Premier Perrottet’s media release regarding NSW Ministry changes, click here.
For more information, contact Anthony Benscher on +61 438 439 431, Andrew Humpherson on +61 419 241 587, Julia Kokic on +61 405 955 887 or Nicholas Rigby on +61 468 913 175.
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