New Fair Trading minister has Western Suburbs edge

Remind us never to get into the business of political sophistry – our predictions of who would get what ministry in the new Minns government in NSW fell spectacularly short.

In his laudable efforts to have equal numbers of men and women around him, Premier Chris Minns has promoted Yasmine Catley – our prediction for Customer Service and Digital minister – to be the state’s first female Police Minister, while Courtney Houssos, our nominee as the likeliest candidate for Better Regulation (including Fair Trading) has been sworn in as Finance Minister.

The customer service gig goes instead to Jihad Dib, MP for Bankstown and formerly incumbent in Lakemba. This is the role formerly occupied by Victor Dominello, which may still have a major influence on strata policy.

Anoulack Chanthivong has accepted the poisoned chalice of Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading. As former mayor of Campbelltown City Council, the Macquarie Fields MP will bring a fresh Western Suburbs perspective to the role, as will Minister Dib. 

Minister Chanthivong will also be Minister for Industry and Trade – his shadow portfolio – plus Innovation, Science and Technology and Corrections. Will he have time to focus on strata and real estate issues?

Fair Trading also incorporates not only rent regulations and strata law, but real estate agents, building licences and strata managers (not to mention broken toys, faulty whitegoods, dodgy mechanics, Easter Show showbags and massage parlours.)

Or perhaps Rose Jackson, as Minister for Housing and Homelessness, will be allowed to make the logical move and draw strata into her domain.

We are not making any predictions.