BARWON MP Kevin Humphries looks to be the big winner from the Nationals out of the new Cabinet, taking on the key issues of land management and water resources.
The newly created Natural Resources, Lands and Water role will be added to Mr Humphries’ Western NSW portfolio, while Wollondilly MP Jai Rowell takes over as Minister for Mental Health.
Mr Humphries will be responsible for Crown Lands and regulation of private land management practices, formerly overseen by Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson.
He will also jointly oversee native vegetation laws, previously the domain solely of the Environment Minister.
Local Land Services remains the responsibility of Ms Hodgkinson.
Mr Humphries' new portfolio includes regional NSW’s water resources, previously managed by the NSW Office of Water, under Ms Hodgkinson.
Deputy Premier and Nationals leader Andrew Stoner said Mr Humphries' new role was an elevation for him and the party.
“Lands Minister includes the environmental purview around land and water management, such as soil salinity and erosion, but through the prism of private property.
“There is some strong buy in there for the Nationals on environmental issues and also around productive agricultural lands.”
Mr Stoner said he would push for Mr Humphries to assume sole responsibility for native veg regulation, but the matter was yet to be determined.
Recent changes to native veg regulations were a good start, but a “comprehensive review” of the legislation was required, Mr Stoner said.
Ms Hodgkinson retained the Primary Industries portfolio but passed the Small Business portfolio on to Mr Stoner. Ms Hodgkinson will also be Assistant Minister for Tourism and Major Events.
In other changes, Pittwater MP Rob Stokes replaces Maitland MP Robyn Parker as Minister for the Environment.
Ms Parker lists her achievements in office as “establishment of the Environment Protection Authority as an independent environmental regulator, the creation of nine new national parks and reserves, ground-breaking approaches to threatened species conservation (and) record investment in hazard reduction to protect life, communities and our parks.”
Mike Foley
Senior journalist for The Land.
Senior journalist for The Land.
