Legal Insights

Cabinet reshuffle in New South Wales: What you need to know from an environment and planning perspective

• 21 March 2022 • 1 min read

In December 2021, New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet announced his new Cabinet, and several changes were made to various Departments including the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. This article briefly considers these changes from a planning and environment perspective.

The Administrative Arrangements (Second Perrottet Ministry – Transitional) Order 2021 (2021 Order) made the following relevant changes:

the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment was renamed the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) on 21 December 2021
persons employed in the Heritage Branch in the Department of Premier and Cabinet will be transferred to DPE on 1 April 2022.

There was also a Cabinet reshuffle, with the following relevant changes:

Anthony Roberts was appointed Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes
Planning Minister Rob Stokes was announced as the new Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Cities and Minister for Active Transport, after previously being the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces
Wendy Tuckerman was appointed Minister for Local Government
Kevin Anderson was appointed Minister for Lands and Water and Minister for Hospitality and Racing.

Matt Kean has retained his position as Treasurer, but has dropped ‘Environment’ from his former title of ‘Minister for Energy and Environment’, now being the ‘Minister for Energy’. Responsibility for the Environment portfolio has been handed over to James Griffin, who has been appointed Minister for Environment and Heritage.