Changing of the guard still has lots to prove

The old guard has well and truly let the new faces come through, with Jillian Skinner also stepping down as deputy leader of the Liberals (although retaining her health portfolio).

This has made way for the new order, which has replaced the old government’s thirst with a “hunger”, according to Premier Mike Baird.

However, with the core of the leadership based in Sydney’s leafy northern suburbs it remains to be seen how this new order’s hunger “to make this State even greater” will translate to the bush.

The creation of the Natural Resources Minister role, now on Barwon MP Kevin Humphries’ mantle, could be well timed given the push to review the Native Vegetation Act – an election promise we’re still waiting for.

But how well will any useful change to the Act go down with the residents of those leafy green suburbs where Mr Baird, and deputy leader Gladys Berejiklian, reside.

They both call the north side of the Harbour Bridge home, a long way east of the Sandstone Curtain, tucked away in Manly and Willoughby.

And how effective can Mr Humphries be on the matter when the Office of Environment and Heritage, which oversees the enforcement of the native veg Act, will now be headed up by environment lawyer and Pittwater member Robert Stokes?

He might be quicker on the uptake than outgoing Environment Minister Robyn Parker, given his background, but it is also unlikely he’ll be shaking the branches too hard on the native veg tree when the Act is reviewed.

The appointment of the young member for Bathurst Paul Toole to replace the outgoing Don Page as Minister for Local Government could prove a good move given he has a background on local council, and it is promising to see the Nationals retain its seven places in cabinet, which will be important given the otherwise heavy loading of northern suburbs Liberals.

Now we just need to see if we can get the banking-trained Mr Baird to show an interest in understanding agriculture and maybe even step foot on a farm – something his predecessor never got around to.