Rees reveals his new-look cabinet

16 Nov 2009, 5:32 pm   -   Source: AAP
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NSW Premier Nathan Rees has revealed his new cabinet after the dumping of Joe Tripodi and Ian Macdonald from his front bench.

NSW Premier Nathan Rees concedes he's taken a huge political risk in sacking Joe Tripodi and Ian Macdonald from his front bench while promoting potential leadership challengers.

Mr Rees unveiled his new-look front bench on Monday - 48 hours after being given powers by the NSW ALP to pick his own ministry and 24 hours after using them to boldly dump Mr Tripodi and Mr Macdonald.

He described his appeal to the ALP state conference on Saturday to be given that authority as a make-or-break moment and the biggest day in his professional career.

He would have "absolutely" resigned had the party rejected his request, he said.

Newly appointed frontbench minister Peter Primrose takes on mineral resources and regulatory reform while the other fresh face, Paul McLeay, has been awarded the ports and waterway portfolio.

Also included in the reshuffle are additional responsibilities for Planning Minister Kristina Keneally, who picks up infrastructure, and Police Minister Michael Daley, who adds finance to his responsibilities.

Both Mr Daley and Ms Keneally are seen as possible leadership contenders should there be a challenge on Mr Rees.

That coupled with the dumping of Mr Tripodi, the Right faction powerbroker, and Mr Macdonald, who has plotted against the premier before, has created a potentially dangerous position for Mr Rees.

The premier said he knew he was taking a risk, but it was part of a "fresh approach".

"Is there a risk in all of this? Of course there is," Mr Rees told reporters.

Mr Rees would not go into the individual reasons behind the two sackings, only saying the move overall was about restoring "integrity, unity and discipline" to his government.

Asked if he now expected Mr Tripodi to attempt to roll him, Mr Rees replied "ask him" before later adding it was up to the public to decide if the risk was worth taking.

He also rejected as nonsense any suggestions that Mr Tripodi's influence in cabinet would remain via his friend and ally Ms Keneally.

"Kristina is her own person," Mr Rees said.

"She's entitled to stand on her own two feet and she does."

Ms Keneally on Monday denied there would be any retribution directed at Mr Rees over Mr Tripodi's sacking.

"That's a ridiculous claim," Ms Keneally said.

"There is no plan for that at all."

However, she would not say if Mr Rees had made the right decision.

"The premier has made a decision and it is his prerogative to do so," she told reporters.

"The (ALP state) conference voted to give him that and I supported that.

"He has made a decision ... and we'll go forward as we have been doing."

Also included in Mr Rees' reshuffle was a promotion for Lands Minister Tony Kelly, who will now also be responsible for primary industries.

It was somewhat of a surprise move given Mr Kelly was demoted by the premier in a frontbench shake-up less than two months ago in an attempt to punish those MPs he believed were plotting against his leadership.

"He's taken his medicine," Mr Rees said of Mr Kelly's promotion.

"I've had a series of discussions with him in the last 24 hours and he's assured me that he's prepared to work very hard for the people of NSW."

The only other change was Treasurer Eric Roozendaal being handed Mr Macdonald's former portfolio of state development.

The new ministry is expected to be sworn in on Tuesday.

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