RSS Feed
March 12th, 2013 
David Schulberg the 3rd
NEW Victorian Premier Denis Napthine is still considering cabinet positions and says he is valuing the advice of his deputy Peter Ryan.
Dr Napthine has pledged his full support for the National Party leader as his deputy, but won’t guarantee Mr Ryan will remain police minister.
“The situation is I’m considering the cabinet positions,” Dr Napthine told a press conference on Tuesday.
“I’m certainly having productive discussions with Peter Ryan and I value his wise counsel and advice.”
Mr Ryan is under pressure after secret telephone recordings were published last week involving his former police adviser Tristan Weston.
Mr Weston stood aside after an Office of Police Integrity (OPI) investigation revealed a campaign to undermine former police commissioner Simon Overland.
Mr Ryan has repeatedly said he was unaware of the campaign to undermine Mr Overland despite it involving Mr Weston.
Mr Ryan told parliament last week he co-operated with the OPI when questioned on the matter.
However, Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said Mr Ryan was compromised.
“He won’t come clean, he won’t be straight with the Victorian community about what went on inside his private ministerial office and what he knew of it,” he told reporters.
Mr Ryan’s colleagues say he has their support.
“Peter Ryan is an outstanding leader of the National party,” Nationals MP Peter Hall told reporters.
“He should be recognised for the great contribution he continues to make to Victorian politics.”
Dr Napthine, who replaced Ted Baillieu as premier on Wednesday, is expected to announce a reshuffle any day.
At the moment two of his ministers, Tourism Minister Louise Asher and Employment Minister Richard Dalla-Riva, are in India for a trade mission.
Mr Andrews said Dr Napthine is yet to show decisive leadership almost a week into the job.
“Denis Napthine doesn’t have a chief of staff, he doesn’t have a cabinet that has any certainty about the roles and responsibilities,” he said.
“This government is as disorganised as the Australian cricket team and every Victorian knows it.”
Source Article from http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/newscomaunationalbreakingnewsndm/~3/fZaK7la9emg/story01.htm
Views: 0
Posted in 
