I am very humbled that the people of New South Wales have re-elected my team to continue transforming this great state.
We feel very privileged to have received your endorsement and we feel very humbled by the responsibility we have been given. It’s now time to get on with it so we can start building the infrastructure that can start making a difference to your daily lives.
I have announced the team that will deliver on the Coalition’s mandate to provide an extra $20 billion for vital infrastructure in our cities and our regions. It is a Cabinet for today and tomorrow, and is a team that represents a good mix of experience and new talent to take the state forward.
I will lead the Coalition with the leader of the Nationals Troy Grant who spent 22 years as a police officer and now becomes not only the Deputy Premier, but the Minister for Justice and Police.
I am particularly proud Gladys Berejiklian and Gabrielle Upton have become the first women in NSW history to hold the positions of Treasurer and Attorney General.
Before the election, we promised to appoint a minister who would be focussed on looking at ways to better protect women and I’m pleased to announce Pru Goward has become Australia’s first Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, in addition to her responsibilities as the Minister for Women, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Medical Research and Assistant Minister for Health.
Andrew Constance becomes the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure and, along with Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Duncan Gay, will play a key role in delivery of the Rebuilding NSW package.
The NSW Government values the contributions of the state’s multicultural communities and to better reflect the engagement the portfolio of Communities and Citizenship has been renamed. I would like to thank Victor Dominello for taking good care of this portfolio in the past term of government and welcome John Ajaka, who is now the Minister for Multiculturalism.
I am confident Minister Ajaka will do a good job representing the interests of the state’s ethnic communities as he takes over from Mr Dominello, who takes on the new role of Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation.
This is a fresh team for NSW that has already started work on delivering on the promises we made to the people of this state over the next four years.
Over the past couple weeks parts of Sydney, the Central Coast and Hunter weathered the worst storms in decades. Sadly, a number of people lost their lives and tens of thousands of homes were left without power. We marked the Anzac Day Centenary and, on the same day we commemorated so many lives lost, an earthquake devastated Nepal. Australians have a great affinity with the people of Nepal and our thoughts are with the state’s Nepalese community of about 16,000, many of whom were devastated by this tragedy.
On another note, I would encourage readers to consider nominating their favourite reporter or media professional for this year’s Premier’s Multicultural Media Awards.
Nominations are now open until 5pm on Friday 22 May 2015. Application details are available on the Multicultural NSW website, www.multicultural.nsw.gov.au