New face of Iemma ministry

Ms Keneally was joined by her husband and two children at 2 pm yesterday (Monday), when she was sworn in as the Minister for Disability Services and Ageing.

Among the new faces on the frontbench team is newly-elected Balmain MP Verity Firth, former NSW Rural Fire Services chief Phil Koperberg and Canterbury MP Linda Burney. It had been earlier speculated that Maroubra MP Michael Daley would also be promoted, but he was overlooked for a position.

The NSW Liberal Party campaign to target controversial Labor ministers before the State election did little to hurt former minister Joe Tripodi, who lost the energy portfolio but retained Ports and Waterways.

Other targeted MPs Frank Sartor and Treasurer Michael Costa held on to their respective Planning and Infrastructure portfolios.

Ms Keneally said that Disability Services and Ageing was a ministry she had long been passionate about.

"Like many lower house members, I have gotten to know the families in my electorate who care for a person with a disability," Ms Keneally said. "I am passionate about ensuring that the most vulnerable in our society are included and supported and protected.

"This portfolio does exactly that, it supports people with a disability to live the best possible life they can in their community."

The NSW Government has committed $1.3 billion over the next five years to strengthen disability services in NSW, the new minister said.

However, Ms Keneally said that her commitment to the electorate of Heffron would be unwavering as there were "lots of exciting things" happening, including the development of the Green Square town centre and the Redfern Waterloo Authority's economic revitalisation of the Redfern area.

A spokeswoman for the Sydney Ports Corporation would not comment on the reappointment of Joe Tripodi as Minister for Ports and Waterways but the recent Liberal candidate for Coogee, Jonathon Flegg, was forthcoming. "He [Joe Tripodi] has no ability as a minister whatsoever," Mr Flegg said. "The only reason he has a position on the frontbench is because he is a broker in the party."

"It really highlights the way the Labor Party works, they don't have a merits-based system. It's about mates rather than merits."

However, local environmentalist and chairperson of the Botany Bay Catchment Alliance, Lynda Newnam, said that Mr Tripodi came with good economic credentials.

"He probably recognises that there are big problems at Port Botany with congestion," Ms Newnam said. "They are not going to go away and the lines that the Government has been spinning for years are just not accurate. Hopefully he [Joe Tripodi] is going to start afresh."

Source: Southern Courier New face of Iemma ministry