Long-term bureaucrat Michael Coutts-Trotter – whose career has flourished under Labor and Liberal governments in NSW,despite links to the ALP through his federal minister wife Tanya Plibersek – was shifted into Treasury. And former Punchbowl Boys High principal Murat Dizdar took on Education. No one could fault those appointments.
However,even some allies of new transport boss Josh Murray have raised their eyebrows about his appointment. Murray is one-time radio journalist turned ALP press secretary who rose to become a chief of staff in the Iemma Labor government. He left NSW in 2008,before the rot really set in,and forged a career abroad working for global infrastructure giant Laing O’Rourke.
But now Murray – the son-in-law of former Labor transport minister Brian Langton – is back,running one of the most politically fraught and technical departments in the government. Premier Chris Minns defended his appointment,but not before Transport Minister Jo Haylen boasted that Murray had “absolutely” been a member of the Labor Party.
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The Coalition has also seized on Haylen’s choice of former bus supremo John Lee to lead her bus taskforce. Lee has extensive experience in running bus networks,both public and private. It would be hard to find a more experienced hand. Nonetheless,his links to Labor – his brother is former federal minister Michael Lee,and John Lee was best man at ex-Labor leader John Robertson’s wedding – is easy fodder for an opposition.
While Minns and his team can insist that all appointments in their new government are merit-based,perception in politics is powerful and Labor has left itself wide open to accusations that it is looking after mates,including those who were around in the bad old days.
Then again,the opposition will be loath to criticise all Labor appointments. Former premier Morris Iemma,who is tipped to take over from Liberal-aligned businessman Tony Shepherd as chair of Venues NSW,has his reputation intact despite the stench of corruption that enveloped Labor after his departure.