A toxic battle for power and media attention is behind the disintegrating relationship between the state's Deputy Premier and Justice and Police Minister Troy Grant and Attorney-General Gabrielle Upton, according to several government sources.
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One senior government source has said the pair's relationship had soured to the point where they were "barely on speaking terms" outside of work commitments.
Fairfax Media understands tension is at boiling point over who has control of what, and which minister is responsible for policy announcements from the Department of Justice to the media.
For example, on Friday the Deputy Premier announced a $10 million fund, for community safety grants of up to $250,000 each. The initiative was originally announced by former Attorney-General Brad Hazzard in March.
"They really dislike each other and are barely on speaking terms," a senior government source told Fairfax Media.
"It's like high school – they try to beat each other to announcements.
"They come from two different worlds – she's lived in this eastern suburbs bubble and hasn't really been exposed to crime and mayhem, whereas he is a country cop from Dubbo."
Mr Grant is a former NSW Police inspector who served 21 years while Ms Upton has worked as a solicitor at Sydney firms Freehills and DLA Piper and as a Wall Street investment banker at Deutsche Bank.
In a joint statement, Ms Upton and Mr Grant said they had a "strong and productive working relationship" that had allowed them to collaboratively deliver reforms.
The reforms include the strengthening of bail laws, tougher penalties for child sexual assault offenders and tougher laws for ice dealers and manufacturers.
Yet several government sources have confirmed a conflict between the pair, with one insider questioning the workability of the so called Justice super ministry structure where the Attorney-General and Police Minister are working in the same portfolio area.
A spokesman for the Premier declined to comment on the relationship between Ms Upton, the Liberal MP for Vaucluse, and Mr Grant, the NSW Nationals leader and member for Dubbo.
In April 2014, the Baird government axed the stand alone department of the Attorney-General and Justice and rolled it into the Department of Justice, headed by Mr Grant.
It is understood it is this dynamic that has caused much of the tension between Mr Grant and Ms Upton.
A joint statement from the ministers explains the Justice super ministry was formed to create "greater fluency".
"The Justice cluster was formed to ensure greater fluency across the whole justice system with a firm focus on justice and community safety outcomes," the statement said.
"The Justice cluster brings together individuals with different backgrounds and skills with a shared commitment to protecting the people of NSW and upholding the rule of law."
