NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has reshuffled his cabinet ahead of the 2023 state election upping the number of women ministers by one and installing nine first-time ministers.
As COVID-19 cases rise in the state minister Brad Hazzard has retained the health portfolio, while Deputy Nationals Leader Bronnie Taylor keeps mental health taking over the newly established ministry of regional health.
As Liberal Upper House MP Natalie Ward stays in the ministry she to take on metropolitan roads and the prevention of domestic and sexual violence.
“This is a cabinet picked on merit,” said Mr Perrottet.
“There will be curve balls that will come our way and we need a team here in NSW to continue the great work of this government … to take NSW to the next level.”
“Each of these members have not only served their community well but ultimately on top of that, they have demonstrated great success in their parliamentary careers to date.”
In the new additions, Greek Australian Miranda MP Eleni Petinos will be the Minister for Small Business and Fair Trading.
“Obviously when it comes to having more women represented in the Liberal party in the parliament, we need to do better,” Mr Perrottet said.
“We need to do better but ultimately I think increasing the female representation in the cabinet will be a great thing for our state.
“I believe that more diverse cabinets provide better perspectives and I think the team that we’ve got today, that the Deputy Premier and I have put together, is a team that will take New South Wales for sustained success in to the future.”
