The NSW Government Reshuffle: The Right Resurgent

Looking over today's reshuffle in the NSW government, it's not hard to see who is in the ascendancy. All of those who have received promotions are members of the hard-nosed Right. To mix metaphors, it looks like the gorillas have taken over the asylum.

As widely tipped, Michael Costa has taken full control of Treasury from Morris Iemma, and hands Finance to John Della Bosca, who had, for many, been the preferred candidate for Treasurer. Though the media have been portraying Joe Tripodi's loss of Roads to the voracious Eric Roozendaal as a dumping in disgrace for the Cross City Tunnel debacle, it's hardly chopped liver. Tripodi has picked up Deputy Treasurer, Roozendaal's old portfolio of Ports and Waterways, and the Energy half of the former Utilities portfolio, which has now been split into two. David Campbell has been given the other half, Water.

Which, of course, means that Carl Scully has lost Utilities. If this is to suggest he be some sort of scapegoat or fall-guy to take the blame for desalination, I think this is dreadfully unfair. Firstly, as I've said before, I don't think desalination was the bogey many perceived it to be. And secondly, it was never Scully's brainchild anyway. It's lousy times when someone gets punished for keeping their head down and getting on with the job.

As pre-selections take place in March it could be interesting to see whether there are any further changes. It's not out of the realms of possibility. Don't forget - less than a year ago, Bob Carr and Craig Knowles were still around ...