NSW: New ministry will show Keneally's true colours

AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-2009
NSW: New ministry will show Keneally's true colours

SYDNEY, Dec 8 AAP - The people of NSW will find out on Tuesday how much influence the
Labor party powerbrokers have over new premier Kristina Keneally, when she announces the
members of her ministry.

So far only Treasurer Eric Roozendaal has been confirmed as a member of Ms Keneally's
government, but the whole ministry is due to be sworn in on Tuesday afternoon at 3.15pm
(AEDT).

The premier has not yet announced the list of ministers but there's widespread speculation
that Tony Kelly and Ian Macdonald will return to senior positions.

Mr Macdonald was sacked by former premier Nathan Rees last month for plotting against
him and Mr Kelly was demoted to a junior ministry for the same reason.

Both men are favoured by powerbrokers Joe Tripodi and Eddie Obeid, who Mr Rees said
last week would be the puppet masters of the new premier.

Former planning minister Frank Sartor, dropped from the ministry when Mr Rees came
to power in 2008, is also expected to return to the front bench.

Ms Keneally has said she will offer Mr Rees a ministry, but after his comments last
week that any new premier would be a puppet of Mr Tripodi and Mr Obeid, it seems unlikely
he will accept.

Ms Keneally insisted on Friday that she would be her own woman and nobody's puppet.

AAP wjf/maur

KEYWORD: LABOR NSW

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