Cronulla MP Mark Speakman will be the state’s new Minister for Environment and Heritage, as well as Assistant Minister for Planning.
Premier Mike Baird’s new-look team includes Gladys Berejiklian as Treasurer and Gabrielle Upton as Attorney-General.
Mr Speakman, 55, has been at the forefront of environmental issues during his four years in Parliament.
On planning matters, he was outspoken in his opposition to the size and scale of the Cronulla Sharks development and advocated significant changes to the Sutherland Shire draft local environmental plan during an independent review.
On the environment front, Mr Speakman advocated publicly and within the government for a container deposit scheme.
The government announced plans for such a scheme during the recent election campaign.
Mr Speakman also joined with Heathcote MP Lee Evans in spearheading efforts to have checkout-style plastic shopping bags banned.
Mr Speakman told Parliament last year it was time for NSW to consider this step, which had already been taken by South Australia, Northern Territory, Tasmania and ACT and many countries around the world.
He cited research by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation [ANSTO] to support his argument when he spoke in Parliament.
He told how he and Mr Evans joined other community representatives on a cruise in the tall boat Yukon on Port Hacking and out to sea.
ANSTO had charted the vessel from Hobart to Sydney to trawl for plastics while studying the impact of plastic pollutants on marine life and the food chain.
‘‘We trawled what I consider to be a surprising amount and variety of plastic in and around Port Hacking, despite the relatively clean nature of that waterway,’’ he said.
Mr Speakman, 55, was a leading barrister specialising in commercial law before entering Parliament in 2011.
He studied at the University of Sydney and Cambridge University, was a partner in a leading law firm, went to the bar in 1991 and was appointed a senior counsel in 2004.
Mr Speakman and his wife Caroline live in Woolooware and have two children.
Raised in Caringbah, he was captain and dux at Caringbah High School in 1977.
In other changes, Deputy Premier Troy Grant, a twice-decorated police officer with 22 years service becomes Minister for Justice and Police, Minister for the Arts and Minister for Racing, and is the senior minister in a Justice cluster of portfolios.
Another new portfolios cluster, Finance, Services and Innovation, will be led by Minister for Finance, Services and Property, Dominic Perrottet.
Andrew Constance becomes Minister for Transport and Infrastructure.
Pru Goward becomes Australia’s first Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, in addition to her responsibilities as Minister for Women, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Medical Research and Assistant Minister for Health.
Mr Baird said the government had signalled its determination to attract more businesses from interstate and reduce red tape by appointing Victor Dominello to the new role of Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation.
Responsibility for TAFE has moved from the Education cluster to the Industry cluster and will be the responsibility of Minister for Regional Development, Skills and Small Business, John Barilaro.
The Industry cluster will be led by Minister for Industry, Resources and Energy Anthony Roberts.j
THE FULL LIST:
The Honourable Michael Bruce Baird MP, Premier, and Minister for Western Sydney
The Honourable Troy Wayne Grant MP, Deputy Premier, Minister for Justice and Police, Minister for the Arts, and Minister for Racing
The Honourable Gladys Berejiklian MP Treasurer, and Minister for Industrial Relations
The Honourable Adrian Piccoli MP, Minister for Education
The Honourable Duncan John Gay MLC, Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, and Vice-President of the Executive Council
The Honourable Anthony John Roberts MP, Minister for Industry, Resources and Energy
The Honourable Jillian Gell Skinner MP, Minister for Health
The Honourable Andrew James Constance MP, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure
The Honourable Bradley Ronald Hazzard MP, Minister for Family and Community Services, and Minister for Social Housing
The Honourable Robert Gordon Stokes MP, Minister for Planning
The Honourable Dominic Francis Perrottet MP, Minister for Finance, Services and Property
The Honourable Gabrielle Cecelia Upton MP, Attorney General
The Honourable Prudence Jane Goward MP, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Medical Research, Assistant Minister for Health, Minister for Women, and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
The Honourable John George Ajaka MLC, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability Services, and Minister for Multiculturalism
The Honourable Stuart Laurence Ayres MP, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events, and Minister for Sport, The Honourable Victor Michael Dominello MP
Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation, The Honourable (John) Giovanni Domenic Barilaro MP
Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Skills, and Minister for Small Business, The Honourable Paul Lawrence Toole MP
Minister for Local Government The Honourable Niall Blair MLC, Minister for Primary Industries, and Minister for Lands and Water
The Honourable Mark Raymond Speakman SC MP Minister for the Environment, Minister for Heritage, and Assistant Minister for Planning
The Honourable David Andrew Elliott MP Minister for Corrections, Minister for Emergency Services, and Minister for Veterans Affairs
The Honourable Leslie Gladys Williams MP, Minister for Early Childhood Education, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and Assistant Minister for Education