Cabinet full of surprises BARCLAY CRAWFORD AND LINDA SILMALIS From: The Sunday Telegraph April 03, 2011

NATIONAL Party leader Andrew Stoner has given up the prized roads portfolio in a surprise shake-up of the Coalition front bench in which former NRL referee Graham Annesley has been named Sports Minister.
Mr Annesley's promotion to the front bench a week after entering parliament will be one of several changes Premier Barry O'Farrell will announce today when he unveils his 21-member cabinet.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal Mr O'Farrell has dumped three MPs - MLC Catherine Cusack, Albury MP Greg Aplin and the Nationals' Melinda Pavey - to make way for Mr Annesley, new Aboriginal Affairs and Citizenship minister Victor Dominello, Anthony Roberts, who will take on Fair Trading, and Robyn Parker, who will have the Environment and Arts portfolio.

It is understood Mr O'Farrell waited until last night to ring Ms Cusack and Mr Aplin to tell them they would not serve on his front bench.


He will publicly announce his cabinet today at 10am.

Mr Stoner, the Deputy Premier, has chosen to step away from roads after campaigning heavily in that portfolio while in opposition.

As the Nationals leader, Mr Stoner had his pick of portfolios. He opted for a newly created super ministry of Trade, Investment Regional Infrastructure and Services.

The decision means roads will go to the experienced Duncan Gay, the second most senior National Party member after Mr Stoner.

Mr Annesley, a former National Rugby League official who has refereed more than 250 first-grade games, was given the coveted sport portfolio despite his lack of parliamentary experience.

Mr O'Farrell has also confirmed Pru Goward as the Family and Community Services Minister, while Mike Baird will become Treasurer.

Gladys Berejiklian will be sworn in as Transport Minister and Jillian Skinner will be Health Minister.

Nationals MP Adrian Piccoli will become the Education Minister, Michael Gallacher the Police and Emergency Services Minister, Brad Hazzard will retain his planning portfolio and Greg Smith will be sworn in as the State's next Attorney-General.

Mr O'Farrell, who settled on the new cabinet with Mr Stoner, said yesterday: "We have a strong team, particularly in the major portfolios that affect people's lives every day.

"In areas such as transport, police, health and roads, I need people who know the operations backwards - and that's why those who have held the jobs over the past four years will remain in those roles.

"We have a tough job ahead of us to build the infrastructure and provide the services NSW needs.

"That work begins as soon as the new team is sworn in."

The Coalition will now examine heads of departments.

O ferral should be locked up in his cabinet with all his other members never to be released