A ministerial re-shuffle could be on the cards in New South Wales, with the Premier Nathan Rees yesterday given the power to sack ministers. Nathan Rees had the backing of both the left and the right factions at yesterday’s Labor Party conference in Sydney.

The ALP’s General Secretary, Matt Thistlethwaite, said it was important to give the Premier the power to choose his team. “In my view delegates, if we are going to be a modern Labor Party the time has come for us to back the Premier,” he said.

The speculation of a reshuffle, was spot on with Ports Minister Joe Tripodi and Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald immediately shown the door – both controversial figures in NSW politics.

There has been a shake-up in the New South Wales Government, with two senior ministers sacked. Finance minister Joe Tripodi is gone, as is the primary industries minister Ian Macdonald. Coming into the ministry is the MP for Heathcote Paul McLeay, and the Upper House MP Peter Primrose.

The Punch’s David Penberthy has written a lively account of the Rees coup that’s well worth a read.

Other important developments at the conference was the banning of developer donations and new rules on the conduct and role of lobbyists in how they do business with government.

Political donations from developers will be banned in NSW under sweeping changes to campaign funding announced by Premier Nathan Rees yesterday.

And lobbyists will be stopped from meeting departmental officials in coffee shops, with all meetings to be held on official premises or on the sites of proposed developments.

Mr Rees said lobbyists had a role to play, but contacts with government should be formal, with full minutes of meetings taken and retained.

Putting aside the possibility of a challenge to Rees leadership from the disaffected, what is clear from these moves is that the state party belongs to the Premier. He has successfully cleared the deck of two issues that negatively impact voter intentions, solidified his position and taken control.

It’s his team and rules and this is what he will be taking to the next election. Only time will tell if this conference was a turning point for Labor in NSW or if this was just another rearranging of the deck chairs.

Update: Imre Salusinszky gives his take on Tripodi and the Rees dumping.

Update II: Damien Murphy and Brian Robbins in the Sydney Morning Herald also explain Tripodi.

Update III: A good narrative of the weekend from the Sydney Morning Herald’s Andrew Clennell.

Final update: Quentin Demster on Rees stand against developers.