Labor family cheer as Minns ministry takes reins in NSW
NSW Premier Chris Minns has welcomed a historic first gender-balanced cabinet in an emotional ceremony.
"There's a lot of happy people who are walking into Government House this afternoon but it's a huge responsibility for all of us," Mr Minns said ahead of formalities on Wednesday.
The new Labor government arrived with a large group of extended family and children in tow, with spillover seating ready on the lawn outside.
Before walking inside, Mr Minns met friends and wellwishers seated on the lawn, taking selfies and cracking jokes.
The slimmed down cabinet of 22 was then sworn in, after being welcomed to the building's glittering ballroom while navy sailors played violins.
"We know that we have to hit the ground running and while today is the day to be sworn in ... tomorrow, it's straight back down to work," the premier said.
It is the first time NSW has had an equal gender mix in the government's leadership team, with 11 male and 11 female ministers sworn in.
On Tuesday, six of the government's 11 incoming female ministers gathered on the steps of the State Library, saying it had taken 28 years to achieve gender parity.
"I'm standing here with history in NSW," said Penny Sharpe, the state's first female environment minister and first female leader in the upper house.
Appearing overcome with emotion, incoming water, housing, homelessness, mental health, youth and north coast minister Rose Jackson wavered briefly, her voice cracking as she described herself as a "minister".
Jihab Dib, the incoming minister for emergency services, customer service and youth justice, became the first to take his oath on the Koran.
Treasurer Daniel Mookhey again took his oath on Hindu text the Bhagavad Gita, in another Australian first.
Mr Mookhey's son Emmett clapped from the lap of his mother, Tamsin Lloyd, and yelled "yay, go Daddy".
Before the ceremony, NSW Governor Margaret Beazley praised Mr Minns and former premier Dominic Perrottet for their civil election campaigns focused on policy.
"Word on the street is that this has been the most respectful campaign that people can remember," Ms Beazley said.
It is the second swearing-in for the government after a skeleton crew of Labor's leadership team signed the papers at Government House last week as counting continued in a number of seats.
They were all sworn in again on Wednesday with the remaining new ministers.
Eleven days since the election, the Liberal party remains without a leader after Mr Perrottet resigned while conceding defeat on election night.
Three Liberal MPs are believed to be in the running, including former attorney-general Mark Speakman, former skills and training minister Alister Henskens and former planning minister Anthony Roberts.
While only Mr Roberts has declared his interest in running for the role, Mr Speakman is understood to be most likely to have the numbers.
The southwest Sydney seat of Ryde was still in doubt on Wednesday, with Liberal candidate Jordan Lane narrowly ahead of Labor's Lyndal Howison.
