Pro Goward retires from NSW Parliament after 12 years

Mrs Goward admitted it was a “difficult decision” to make but did it in the interests of her family.

The Berejiklian government is facing a difficult time to hold on to power with a nine seat loss that would see it lose its hold on power at the March 23 election. New polls put Labor ahead, on the back of Labor’s strong performance in the recent Victorian election. NSW Labor though was rocked yesterday when ICAC raided its headquarters investigating political donations.

Meanwhile, the Premier has lost one of her close lieutenants.  Mrs Goward said she had “decided to retire”. “This was a difficult decision to make and one I make in the best interests of my family.”

She has served in several ministerial roles including Minister for Family and Community Services, Social Housing, Planning, Medical Research, Mental Health, Women, Assistant Minister for Health and as the State’s first Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Minister.

“I thank the people of Goulburn who I have served for almost 12 years,” Mrs Goward said. “I have been proud to deliver a number of key infrastructure priorities for our community including Goulburn and Bowral hospital redevelopments, a significant upgrade of the Barton Highway and a huge investment in our public schools. 

“I entered the NSW Parliament in 2007 as the Member for Goulburn. My portfolios have involved complex social issues. They often do not get the media attention they deserve but are some of the most critical in government. They are tough and often filled with great sadness, but also with people who wish to take charge of their lives and just need a chance. 

“Reform is never easy but worth the fight. I never walk away from tough decisions. We reformed the child protection system with a focus on the permanency of vulnerable children through preservation, restoration, guardianship or open adoption. We are seeing 10,000 more children since coming to Government, and a 44 per cent reduction of new entries into care in the past two years. We now have record low caseworker vacancies, record caseworkers on the frontline and record child protection funding. 

“I have championed open adoption with 501 adoptions from care over the past 5 years. This is not another stolen generation; it is about giving children a safe home for life.

“As Social Housing Minister, we have the biggest social housing building program in the country. The $22 billion Communities Plus program is delivering 23,000 social and 500 affordable homes, and 40,000 private homes over the next 10 years. 

“In homelessness, with $1 billion committed over four years, my priority was to ensure we have outreach teams on the ground housing the homeless and supporting them into long-term housing. We have permanently housed more than 310 rough sleepers since March 2017 with more than 90 per cent sustaining tenancies.

“As the first Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault I created a system across government and delivered record funding. Perpetrator accountability has been at the core of our reforms. We introduced High Risk Offender Teams and Suspect Targeting of domestic violence offenders. BOCSAR analysis shows the annual rate of domestic assault incidents occasioning grievous bodily harm fell by 15.5 per cent in the eight years to 2016, not seen elsewhere in Australia. I am confident our reforms will continue to reduce offending. 

“As Mental Health Minister I championed improvements and reform in acute services as well as community-based care so that people with a mental illness can live well. I prioritised suicide prevention including collaboration between government, the nongovernment sector, philanthropy and research institutes.” 

Premier Gladys Berejiklian thanked Mrs Goward for her outstanding contribution and service to the people of NSW following her announcement that she will not stand at the next election due to family reasons.

“I know how difficult this decision has been for Pru and completely appreciate her need to put family first at this difficult time,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“Pru has been a trailblazer for women in this country, an outstanding Minister and a strong advocate for the people of the Goulburn electorate. She will be missed.

“She will leave a legacy of achievement for which she can be enormously proud, including her historic improvements to the child protection system which has resulted in a record number of caseworkers on the frontline, a drastic reduction in the number of children entering care and championed adoption reform.

“Pru has overseen the biggest social housing building program in the country, which has helped more disadvantaged people find the security of a home. 

“I wish her and her family the best for the future.”