NSW: Dumped minister boycotts caucus meeting

AAP General News (Australia)
04-07-1999
NSW: Dumped minister boycotts caucus meeting

SYDNEY, April 7 AAP - Dumped New South Wales Environment Minister Pam Allan today boycotted
a Labor caucus meeting that formally confirmed her demotion to the back benches.

Local Government Minister Ernie Page and Sports Minister Gabrielle Harrison, the other two
MPs to lose their portfolios, attended the meeting at parliament house.

Mr Page appeared philosophical about his demotion but asked if he would stand as an MP at
the next election replied: "Who knows I'll have to see."

He said his relegation was "part of political life" and he was not disappointed that his
colleagues in the Left faction had dumped him as part of a deal to get extra representation in
the ministry.

"You can't bag the democratic process, you can't be involved and when it doesn't work out
say there's something wrong with it," Mr Page told reporters as he left the meeting.

He denied the demotion would dampen his enthusiasm for politics in the Carr government's
second term.

Ms Harrison said she was looking forward to a lighter workload.

"I've had really hard five years and hopefully this is the start of an easier couple of
years and I'm happy to abide by the caucus decision," she said.

Ms Allan, most high-profile minister to lose her portfolio, did not attend.

She issued a brief statement yesterday saying she was disappointed not to be part of the
ministry.

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KEYWORD: RESHUFFLE DUMPED

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