Premier Dominic Perrottet is set to name his new cabinet in coming days.Credit:Renee Nowytarger
“I know[the industry] want him removed because he has been the first minister in my 25 years of advocating pokies reform that has shown backbone,” he said.
Industry figures lobbying for Mr Dominello to lose liquor and gaming have criticised his attempts to reform pokies and introduce a cashless gambling card,and say his relationship with the industry has soured over recent months.
“The government has been spending untold billions on the hospitality industry to get them through COVID,and the minister supposedly responsible is only interested in a gambling card,a decade-old idea he is trumping up as some digital innovation,” one industry source who is not authorised to comment publicly said.
Jobs Minister Stuart Ayres has been tipped to potentially take over liquor and gaming,as well as the newly created cities portfolio as part of a super hospitality cluster.
Among Mr Perrottet’s biggest decisions will be whether to keep Rob Stokes in the role of Transport Minister,who had the portfolio thrust upon him in October after the resignation of Bega Liberal MP Andrew Constance.
Mr Stokes,who has held the portfolio simultaneously with planning,has been considered the most likely to stay in transport. Sports Minister Natalie Ward has also expressed interest.
The long-awaited reshuffle could see a handful of ministers dumped from the frontbench,with Mr Perrottet likely to bring in fresh faces ahead of the 2023 election.