NSW: Chikarovski rewards Hartcher with Olympics portfolio

AAP General News (Australia)
04-19-1999
NSW: Chikarovski rewards Hartcher with Olympics portfolio

SYDNEY, April 19 AAP - New South Wales opposition leader Kerry Chikarovski today named her
21-member shadow cabinet and gave the plum job of Olympics spokesman to Chris Hartcher.

Mrs Chikarovski said the new frontbench, which excludes former leader Peter Collins, would
revitalise the coalition.

Mr Hartcher, who earlier this month lost his bid to become opposition deputy leader to
Barry O'Farrell, will also have a spot on the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic
Games (SOCOG) board.

The Olympics spot was vacated when deputy leader and treasury spokesman Ron Phillips lost
his seat of Miranda in the opposition's devastating March 27 election defeat.

National Party leader George Souris is spokesman for rural affairs, finance and mineral
resources.

Mr Souris denied reports he sought the senior job of treasury spokesman, which went to
former housing spokesman Peter Debnam.

"One has to seek it to be disappointed and I didn't seek it," he told reporters.

Mrs Chikarovski will look after the areas of arts, ethnic affairs and women.

Mr O'Farrell picked up transport, which became free when senior MP Michael Photios lost his
seat at the poll, which reduced the Liberal Party's presence in the NSW lower house to 20
seats from 29.

As expected, Mr Collins was banished from the frontbench, with Liberal MPs furious at his
performance since being dumped just over three months before the election in December.

"It's time to move on and this is about moving on," Mrs Chikarovski told reporters when
asked about her failure to promote him.

Dumped National Party leader Ian Armstrong retained a frontbench spot, despite his public
campaign for the coalition to split following the election defeat.

Mr Armstrong, who lost the leadership to Mr Souris in January, will be spokesman for
regional infrastructure, planning and decentralisation.

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KEYWORD: COALITION

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