Former planning minister Kristina Keneally has vowed to “depoliticise” planning decisions and bring major changes to public transport in her new role as premier of NSW.
Keneally was today sworn in as premier after she ousted Nathan Rees in a leadership ballot last night, winning 47-21. Rees’ ban on political donations from developers will go ahead, the new premier said.
“I do support, fully, the steps ... taken to depoliticise planning decisions and remove any suggestion that donations have a role to play in the government,” she told ABC Television today.
She said her focus would be on jobs and economic investment in NSW, followed by transport, health and education.
However, last night’s leadership challenge prevented Nathan Rees from presenting the government’s long awaited $180 billion transport plan.
While the premier could still present the plan, which has taken five months of work from transport minister David Cambell as well as other consultants, the change in premiers has worried transport officials.
The 2031 Blueprint is in its final preparatory stages. A leaked copy says the plan calls for private investment to build the controversial Sydney underground metro lines.
It includes a West Metro between Central and Westmead, and a new underground metro from Martin Place to Malabar.
It is possible that the plan could now be changed before it is put before the house.
“It's in its final budget stages. I won't be ruling things in or out until we finalise that document,” Keneally said.
The premier also rebuked accusations that she was a pawn of Eddie Obeid and Joe Tripodi, saying: “Let me be absolutely clear on this. I am nobody's puppet. I am nobody's protégé, I am nobody's girl.”
Keneally has ruled out giving a front bench role to Tripodi but has offered one to Nathan Rees. She said she will take a “collaborative” approach in choosing her new cabinet.
“At the end of the day I will be appointing the cabinet but we are a team in this government and it will be a team approach.”
