Chris Minns announces historic 50% female cabinet for NSW Labor

By ERIN MODARO

For the first time in history the NSW government’s cabinet will be made up of 50% women (excluding the Premier). NSW Premier Chris Minns announced Labor’s new cabinet today, which includes the first female ministers for finance, police, energy, natural resources and regional transport.

This marks a significant change in gender ratios from former Premier Dominic Perrottet’s cabinet which, when sworn into Parliament, only included 7 women as Ministers.

For the first time in NSW, women will be equally at the decision making table. Thanks to @ChrisMinnsMP and grateful to the late Joan Kirner, @SenatorWong & @JuliaGillard (along with many others) who got Labor on the path to gender equality. #nswpol pic.twitter.com/R01sjINpy2

— Penny Sharpe (@PennySharpemlc) April 3, 2023

Also new for NSW is the swearing in of Ministers on a range of religious texts, as Treasurer Daniel Mookhey swore into Parliament on the Bhagavad Gita, and Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib on the Quran.

Ministers in significant positions include Deputy Premier Prue Car as Education Minister, a position with a lot riding on fulfilling Labor’s election promises to address education issues across NSW.

Penny Sharpe has been appointed to Energy and Climate Change, Environment and Heritage and also Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council. Tara Moriarty will take on Agriculture, Regional NSW and Western NSW.

Labor’s former Deputy Leader Yasmin Catley has been appointed to Minister for Police. Summer Hill’s MP Jo Haylen has been given Transport, and Upper House MP Courtney Houssos takes on Finance.

Attorney General Micheal Daley, Maroubra MP, will be the the only former minister in the cabinet.

Liberals struggle to include women in Lower House

Labor’s new cabinet reflects a leg up on the Liberal’s struggles in preselecting female candidates to run in the state election. The Liberals faced criticism for a lack of representation across candidates, with just 34% being women.

In March Dominic Perrottet admitted the party’s shortfall and vowed to increase the number of women running in the next election, as the Libs came behind Labor 45% female candidates and the Greens’ even split.

At the time Penny Sharpe, now Education Minister, called for an increase in diversification across Parliament.

“Women make up half our population and should have an equal seat at the table when decisions are being made,” Sharpe said.

Premier Chris Minns said that he is “proud of the team that we have”.

“We have a lot of hard work in front of us, and a big responsibility, but my team and I are up to the challenge.”

Labor’s new cabinet will likely be sworn into NSW Parliament tomorrow (Wednesday April 5).