Local MPs survive State Government bloodletting
BY ALEX MCDONALD
The former minister for the environment, Verity Firth, was among the winners in this week’s State Cabinet reshuffle which followed the exit of Premier Morris Iemma. She will now be in charge of Education.
“I hope that people see this as a new direction for NSW,” she said. “We need to pull our socks up and get on with it.”
The Minister for Balmain described education as a “wonderful portfolio”, although she would not be drawn on the issue of a proposed 5 per cent pay rise for teachers. The new Premier Nathan Rees has capped all public sector wage rises at 2.5 per cent.
Ms Firth conceded that the state’s financial situation was “difficult” and described Premier Rees as a “straight talker”.
The new Education Minister also said that the State Government upheaval of the past week should not hurt Labor’s chances in the weekend council elections.
“Meredith [Burgmann] is a seasoned campaigner and long-term resident of the inner city,” said Ms Firth when asked about her aunt’s chances in the mayoral tussle for the City of Sydney.
Another inner-city MP to be promoted was the Minister for Heffron, Kristina Keneally. She takes on Frank Sartor’s former portfolio of planning, and will oversee the Redfern-Waterloo and Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authorities.
