PREMIER Gladys Berejiklian is quickly back-pedalling from a decision to privatise NSW graveyards as Catholic Archbishop Anthony Fisher prepares to punish her government over the issue. It is understood NSW Property Minister Melinda Pavey has this week been instructed to re-engage the Catholic Church and to quickly find an alternate solution to the government’s bombshell graveyard reforms.
NEWLY appointed NSW cabinet minister Natalie Ward has kicked back with political lobbyist Michael Photios to celebrate her recent promotion. The founder of political lobbying firm PremierState joined Ms Ward’s “family and friends” at an eastern Sydney venue on the weekend to celebrate her unexpected advancement.
SENIOR NSW cabinet ministers have been ordered by ICAC to hand-over potentially damning evidence as the Berejiklian government faces comparisons with the corruption-riddled Keneally Labor government. Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, Deputy Premier John Barilaro and possibly Environment Minister Matt Kean have all been served section 22 orders, according to The Australian newspaper.
IT WAS said, not that many moons ago, that the Liberal Party had, after decades of sectarian rivalry and anti-Catholicism, changed its tune and had become the Party of Catholics. A real Catholic – not a fake one like Tony Abbott’s predecessor and successor – made it to the leadership of the Party in 2009.
NSW Finance Minister Damien Tudehope has told voters to disregard Energy Minister Matt Kean’s “thought bubbles” on energy policy. In a bruising interview on Sky News’ Alan Jones show last night, Mr Tudehope said Mr Kean’s “musings” had no link to reality.
NSW Families Minister Gareth Ward has hastily departed the Berejiklian government after police began investigating sexual violence allegations against him. While denying any wrongdoing, Mr Ward yesterday confirmed he was under investigation by the NSW Child Abuse & Sex Crimes Squad. He is now sitting on the cross benches as an independent awaiting the outcome.
BY FULLY buying into Kevin Rudd’s “great moral challenge” scare, the Liberal Party has become increasingly sidelined as a radical green movement – while Labor pivots away from extreme environmentalism. With Liberals, particularly in NSW and WA, squabbling over how fast they can eliminate baseload power – alienating millions of voters while doing so – Labor has outwitted them, throwing its support behind traditional energy.
THREE weeks after WA’s radical Liberals were butchered at the ballot box, NSW Minister Matt Kean has called for the Party to shift even further Left. The WA Liberals, which now holds just two of the State’s 59 seats, had attempted to outgreen The Greens, calling for net-zero carbon emissions a full 20 years earlier than Labor.
THE New South Wales Coalition is expecting to lose the upcoming by-election following the resignation of Upper Hunter National MP Michael Johnsen. Premier Gladys Berejiklian said that the Liberal-National Coalition would need a “miracle” to win the seat previously filled by Mr Johnsen.
ANGER for the increasingly radical NSW Energy & Environment Minister Matt Kean has become uncontained, with Liberals in his own backyard now publicly venting their frustration. High profile Party member Bob Partington this week tore strips off his local MP after the appointment of deposed prime minister Malcom Turnbull into a taxpayer-funded “warming warrior” role.
