Barton Deakin Brief: NSW Ministry Reshuffle

Date: Dec 2021

Barton Deakin Brief: NSW Ministry Reshuffle

20 December 2021

Today the New South Wales Premier, the Hon. Dominic Perrottet MP, announced changes to his ministry. Mr Perrottet has created three new ministry positions, including Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, Minister for Cities and Minister for Homes. The Premier said that this reshuffle will take NSW from good to great and will be a government focused on infrastructure investment across the board. He said that his new ministry is a combination of renewal and experience.

Reshuffle details

  • The Hon. Don Harwin MLC confirmed he would not recontest the next state election and therefore did not seek reappointment to Cabinet. He previously served as the Special Minister of State, Minister for the Public Service and Employee Relations, Aboriginal Affairs, and the Arts, and Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council.
  • The Hon. Shelley Hancock MLC confirmed she would not recontest the next election and therefore did not seek reappointment to Cabinet. She most recently served as the Minister for Local Government under the Berejiklian and Perrottet government.
  • Ms Melinda Pavey MP was not reappointed to Cabinet but will continue serving as Member for Oxley. She most recently served as the Minister for Water, Property and Housing under the Berejiklian and Perrottet governments.
  • Mr Adam Marshall MP was not reappointed to Cabinet. He most recently served as the Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW. Mr Marshall is the Member for Northern Tablelands.
  • The Hon. Natasha Maclaren-Jones MLC, the Hon. Sam Farraway MLC, the Hon. Stephanie Cooke MP, the Hon. Eleni Petinos MP, the Hon. James Griffin MP, the Hon. Mark Coure MP, the Hon. Dugald Saunders MP, the Hon. Ben Franklin MLC, and the Hon. Wendy Tuckerman MP have all entered Cabinet.

Biographies

Deputy Premier, Minister for Police and Regional New South Wales – The Hon. Paul Toole MP

The Hon. Paul Toole MP has been appointed as the Minister for Police. Mr Toole was previously the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads. Mr Toole was first elected to NSW Parliament as the Nationals Member for Bathurst in 2011. Mr Toole first entered Cabinet in 2014 as the Minister for Local Government under the Baird government. He has also served as the Minister for Racing, Lands and Forestry and most recently for Regional New South Wales, Regional Transport and Roads. Following the resignation of Mr John Barilaro MP, Toole became Leader of the NSW Nationals and the Deputy Premier of NSW in October 2021.

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism, Sport and Western Sydney – The Hon. Stuart Ayres MP

The Hon. Stuart Ayres MP has been appointed Minister for Enterprise and Sport, and previously served as Minister for Jobs, Investment, Trade and Industry. Mr Ayres was first elected to NSW parliament as the Liberal Member for Penrith in 2010. Mr Ayres has previously served in Cabinet as Minister for Fair Trading, Sport and Recreation, Police and Emergency Services, Major Events, WestConnex and most recently the Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism, Western Sydney, Trade and Industry across the O’Farrell, Baird, Berejiklian and Perrottet governments. Mr Ayres is also the Deputy Leader of the NSW Liberal Party.

Treasurer and Minister for Energy – The Hon. Matthew Kean MP

The Hon. Matthew Kean MP has been re-appointed as the Treasurer and Minister for Energy. Mr Kean previously served as Minister for the Environment. Mr Kean was first elected to NSW Parliament as the Liberal Member for Hornsby in 2011. He first entered Cabinet under the Berejiklian government as the Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation in 2017. He then served as the Minister for Energy and Environment from 2019. Mr Kean was promoted to Treasurer in 2021 following the appointment of Dominic Perrottet MP to Premier of NSW.

Minister for Mental Health, Regional Health and Women – The Hon. Bronwyn Taylor MLC

The Hon. Bronwyn Taylor MLC has been appointed Minister for Regional Health, and has retained the portfolios of Mental Health and Regional Women. Ms Taylor was previously the Minister for Regional Youth. Ms Taylor was first elected to the NSW Parliament as a Nationals Member of the Legislative Council in 2015. She first entered Cabinet as the Minister for Mental Health, Regional Youth and Women in 2019 under the Berejiklian government.

Minister for Finance, Employee Relations, Vice-President of the Executive Council, Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council – The Hon. Damien Tudehope MLC

The Hon. Damien Tudehope MLC has been appointed as the Minister for Employee Relations and Vice-President of the Executive Council. Mr Tudehope will continue to serve as Minister for Finance. Mr Tudehope initially served as the Liberal Member for Epping from 2015-2019, before becoming a Member of the Legislative Council in March of 2019. Mr Tudehope most recently served as Minister for Finance and Small Business under the Berejiklian government. Mr Tudehope was appointed Leader of the House in the Legislative Council in 2020.

Minister for Skills and Training, Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology and Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly – The Hon. Alister Henskens SC MP

The Hon. Alister Henskens SC MP has been appointed as the Minister for Skills and Training, Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology and Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly. First elected to NSW Parliament as the Liberal Member of Ku-ring-gai in 2015, Mr Henskens has most recently served as Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services under the Berejiklian and Perrottet governments.

Minister for Health – The Hon. Brad Hazzard MP

The Hon. Brad Hazzard MP has been reappointed the Minister for Health. Mr Hazzard previously served as Minister for Medical Research. Mr Hazzard was elected to the NSW Parliament as the Liberal Member for Wakehurst in 1991. He has served in the Cabinet of the O’Farrell, Baird, Berejiklian and Perrottet governments. He has previously served as Attorney General and has been the Minister responsible for the portfolios of Planning, Infrastructure, Justice, Social Housing, Family and Community Services, and most recently Health and Medical Research during his tenure in parliament.

Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning – The Hon. Sarah Mitchell MP

The Hon. Sarah Mitchell MP has been reappointed as the Minister for Education and Early Learning. Ms Mitchell was first elected as a Nationals Member of the NSW Legislative Council in 2011. Ms Mitchell first entered Cabinet as the Minister for Early Childhood Education and Aboriginal Affairs under the Berejiklian government. She most recently served as Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning under the Berejiklian and Perrottet government.

Attorney General – The Hon. Mark Speakman SC MP

The Hon. Mark Speakman SC MP has been reappointed as Attorney General. Mr Speakman previously served as Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly. Mr Speakman was first elected to NSW Parliament as the Liberal Member for Cronulla in 2011. Mr Speakman has previously served as the Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services (for fourteen days) under the Berejiklian government. Mr Speakman also served as Minister for the Environment and Heritage under the Baird government.

Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport – The Hon. Rob Stokes MP

The Hon. Rob Stokes MP has been appointed as the Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport. Mr Stokes was first elected to the NSW Parliament as the Liberal Member for Pittwater in 2007. Mr Stokes has held a variety of portfolios in Cabinet, serving as Minister for the Environment, the Central Coast, Heritage, Education, and most recently Planning and Public Spaces, Transport and Roads across the Baird, Berejiklian and Perrottet governments.

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government – The Hon. Victor Dominello MP

The Hon. Victor Dominello MP has been reappointed as the Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government. Mr Dominello was first elected to the NSW Parliament as the Liberal Member for Ryde in 2008. Mr Dominello has served in the Cabinet of the O’Farrell, Baird, Berejiklian and Perrottet governments. He previously served as the Minister for Citizenship and Communities, Aboriginal Affairs, Innovation and Better Regulation, Finance, Services and Property and most recently the Minister for Customer Service and Digital.

Minister for Planning and Homes – The Hon. Anthony Roberts MP

The Hon. Anthony Roberts MP has been appointed as the Minister for Planning and Homes. Mr Roberts was first elected to NSW Parliament as the Liberal Member for Lane Cove in 2003. Mr Roberts has previously served as the Minister for Fair Trading, Resources and Energy, Industry, Planning, Housing, Special Minister of State and most recently the Minister for Counter Terrorism and Corrections under the O’Farrell, Baird, Berejiklian and Perrottet governments.

Minister for Transport and Veterans – The Hon. David Elliott MP

The Hon. David Elliott MP has been appointed Minister for Transport and Veterans. In 1995, Mr Elliott joined the Australian Army and commenced his officer training at Royal Military College, Duntroon, attaining the rank of Captain in April 1997. Mr Elliott was first elected to Parliament in 2011 as the Liberal Member for Baulkham Hills. Mr Elliott has previously served as the Minister for Veterans Affairs, Emergency Services, Corrections, Counter Terrorism and most recently the Minister for Police and Emergency Services across the Baird, Berejiklian and Perrottet governments.

Minister for Metropolitan Roads, Women’s Safety, and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence – The Hon. Natalie Ward MLC

The Hon. Natalie Ward MLC has been appointed as the Minister for Metropolitan Roads, Women’s Safety, and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence. First elected to NSW Parliament as a Liberal Member of the Legislative Council in 2017, Ms Ward has most recently served as Minister for Sport, Multiculturalism, Seniors and Veterans under the Berejiklian and Perrottet government.

Minister for Lands and Water, Hospitality and Racing – The Hon. Kevin Anderson MP

The Hon. Kevin Anderson MP has been appointed Minister for Lands and Water, Hospitality and Racing. Mr Anderson was first elected to the NSW Parliament as the Nationals Member for Tamworth in 2011. Mr Anderson previously served as Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation under the Berejiklian and Perrottet governments.

Minister for Corrections – The Hon. Dr Geoffrey Lee MP

The Hon. Dr Geoffrey Lee MP has been appointed Minister for Corrections. Dr Lee was first elected to the NSW Parliament as the Liberal Member for Parramatta in 2011. Lee has previously served as the Minister for Sport, Multiculturalism, Seniors and Veterans and most recently, the Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education under the Berejiklian and Perrottet governments.

Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services – The Hon. Natasha Maclaren- Jones MLC

The Hon. Natasha Maclaren-Jones MLC has been promoted to Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services. First elected to the NSW Parliament as a Liberal Member of the NSW Legislative Council in 2011, Ms Maclaren-Jones has previously served as Cabinet Secretary from May 2021.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads – The Hon. Sam Farraway MLC

The Hon. Sam Farraway MLC has been promoted to Minister for Regional Transport and Roads. Mr Farraway was first elected to the NSW Parliament as a Nationals Member of the Legislative Council in 2019.

Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience – The Hon. Stephanie Cooke MP

The Hon. Stephanie Cooke MP has been promoted to Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience. Ms Cooke was first elected to the NSW Parliament as the Member for Cootamundra in 2017. Ms Cooke most recently served as Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Health under the Berejiklian and Perrottet governments.

Minister for Small Business and Fair Trading – The Hon. Eleni Petinos MP

The Hon. Eleni Petinos MP has been promoted to Minister for Small Business and Fair Trading. Ms Petinos was first elected to the NSW Parliament as the Member for Miranda in 2015. Ms Petinos previously served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Roads under the Berejiklian and Perrottet governments.

Minister for Environment and Heritage – The Hon. James Griffin MP

The Hon. James Griffin MP has been promoted to Minister for Environment and Heritage. First elected to the NSW Parliament as the Member for Manly in 2017, Mr Griffin has previously served as Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Veterans and the Environment under the Berejiklian and Perrottet governments.

Minister for Seniors and Multiculturalism – The Hon. Mark Coure MP

The Hon. Mark Coure MP has been promoted to Minister for Seniors and Multiculturalism. Coure was first elected to the NSW Parliament as the Member for Oatley in 2011. Mr Coure previously served as the Assistant Speaker.

Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW – The Hon. Dugald Saunders MP

The Hon. Dugald Saunders MP has been promoted to Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW. Saunders was first elected to the NSW Parliament as the Member for Dubbo in 2019.

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, the Arts and Regional Youth – The Hon. Ben Franklin MLC

The Hon. Ben Franklin MLC has been promoted to Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, the Arts and Regional Youth. Franklin was first elected to the NSW Parliament as a Nationals Member of the Legislative Council in 2015.

Minister for Local Government – The Hon. Wendy Tuckerman MP

The Hon. Wendy Tuckerman has been promoted to Minister for Local Government. Tuckerman was first elected to the NSW Parliament as a Nationals Member for Goulburn in 2019.

Additional Information

To see the updated NSW Ministry, click here.

For more information, contact Andrew Humpherson on +61 419 241 587, Anthony Benscher on +61 438 439 431, or Julia Kokic on +61 405 955 887

To stay up to date with the affairs of Coalition Governments and Oppositions around Australia, you can follow Barton Deakin on Twitter and LinkedIn. For more information on Barton Deakin please visit our website.