Rees gets power to pick NSW front bench

14 Nov 2009, 5:16 pm   -   Source: AAP
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NSW Premier Nathan Rees has been given the power to pick and choose his own cabinet and has indicated another frontbench reshuffle is imminent.

NSW Premier Nathan Rees has been given the power to pick and choose his own cabinet and has indicated another frontbench reshuffle is imminent.

In a surprise move during his first address to the NSW ALP state conference as their leader, Mr Rees pleaded with delegates to end the practice of having the caucus of the left and right factions choose who serves in the ministry.

The premier only informed the NSW ALP general secretary Matt Thistlethwaite of his desire to make the change on Saturday morning prior to giving his speech.

The first factional bosses are believed to have heard of it was when Mr Rees gave his address, during which he also announced a ban would be introduced on political donations from property developers.

The practice where the leader picks his front bench has recently been adopted by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Queensland Premier Anna Bligh.

"I come before you today to seek the same authority," Mr Rees told the conference.

"Not after an election victory, but in order to win one."

In a show of support for Mr Rees, the conference unanimously supported his request.

Mr Rees, formerly of the left faction but now unaligned, will have the ability to promote and remove MPs from the front bench without the necessary approval of the factions.

Among those likely to be top of the hit list are Lands Minister Tony Kelly and Primary Resources Minister Ian Macdonald.

Both men were demoted but not dumped from the cabinet when Mr Rees reshuffled his front bench in September in a bid to punish those who have plotted against his leadership.

Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard also hailed the change.

"Premier Nathan Rees has shown strong and decisive leadership in determining that he will pick his ministerial team," a spokesperson for Ms Gillard said.

"The Rudd government adopted this system after the 2007 election.

"As the track record of the Rudd government shows, this system enables the leader and his handpicked team to focus their energies on improving the lives of Australians today while building a stronger and fairer tomorrow."

The other key announcement during his address that political donations from property developers would also be outlawed would help remove the perception that money can buy influence in government decisions, Mr Rees said.

Mr Rees said the ban on these donations would take effect for the NSW ALP effective immediately and that legislation would be introduced into state parliament to make it law and applicable to other political parties.

A cross-party committee will also be asked to examine issues of campaign spending and donation caps as well as looking at recommendations around public funding for elections.

It will be asked to report back by next March in order for legislation to go before NSW parliament in June.

"One way or another, the next state election will be conducted under a public funding model," Mr Rees told the conference.

"The era of big donations is over."

While previously declaring he was in favour of publicly funded election campaigns, Mr Rees has insisted NSW should wait until there is a uniform national approach.

But now was the time to take leadership in this area, he said.

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