Premier Gladys Berejiklian with Governor David Hurley AC and her new ministry.
Newly re-elected Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced a new ministry with a number of new Departments, a new organisational structure and new Ministers.
The new Cabinet includes portfolios such as dedicated Customer Service, Water and Regional Youth Ministers.
Ms Berejiklian said dedicated ministers for Western NSW and Water would help regional communities face the challenges of the ongoing drought in the state.
“The new team will help deliver better social outcomes for the most vulnerable and equality of opportunity for people across the state, no matter their background or where they live,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional New South Wales, Industry and Trade, John Barilaro, said the new Ministry will hone in on key challenges and opportunities in the regions like never before.
“Our Government has always recognised that the regions face different challenges than our cities, and this new team takes that to another level,” Mr Barilaro said.
“The ongoing drought is still the major issue impacting on our communities, particularly in the State’s West. That is why we have introduced a dedicated minister for Western NSW while also introducing a Minister for Water,” he said.
Under the changes, the Public Service has been consolidated into eight super-departments: Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC); The Treasury; Department of Customer Service; Department of Planning and Industry; Department of Transport; Ministry of Health; Department of Education; and Department of Family and Community Services and Justice.
The following Agencies have been abolished: Office of Environment and Heritage; Office of Local Government; Barangaroo Delivery Authority; and UrbanGrowth NSW Development Corporation.
Staff have been transferred from Heritage to DPC; Arts to DPC; Regional NSW to Planning and Industry; Liquor & Gaming NSW to Department of Customer Service; and Aboriginal Affairs staff will go to DPC.
Asked about the changes triggering any job losses, Ms Berejiklian said: ‘‘I don’t anticipate there will be any in regional NSW whatsoever … some people might have different jobs but that is something exciting to look forward to.”
Ms Berejiklian thanked outgoing ministers Niall Blair, Gabrielle Upton, Tanya Davies and Ray Williams, as well as retired ministers Troy Grant and Pru Goward.
The new Cabinet was sworn in at Government House last Tuesday (2 April) and the full Ministry can be accessed at this PS News link.
