VIC: Old faces leave Kennett s team

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-1999
VIC: Old faces leave Kennett s team

By Peter Barber, State Political Correspondent

MELBOURNE, Aug 24 AAP - The Kennett government enters the election campaign without many of
the personalities who defined the coalition's first two terms.

The retirement of six senior Cabinet ministers removes invaluable experience from the
political bench, though it has been depicted by the premier as a fresh start.

Most significant among the departures is Treasurer Alan Stockdale, the architect of
Victoria's economic turnaround and a man considered by many as the government's intellectual
centre.

But the government is also losing Deputy Liberal leader and Education Minister Phil Gude.

The one-time leadership aspirant has overseen the Liberal's much-trumpeted schools of the
third millennium program - in which classrooms will be progressively decked out with
information technology - and the controversial plan for self-governing schools.

Gone too are its veteran Attorney-General Jan Wade, Police Minister Bill McGrath, and
Sports Minister Tom Reynolds, as well as the minister who oversaw painful cuts to the health
system, Marie Tehan.

Premier Jeff Kennett has billed the exodus as managed renewal, a shot of life-giving fresh
blood and new ideas to keep the government relevant.

He has also sought to draw a line under the government's era of harsh cost-cutting - of
which Alan Stockdale is synonymous - and depict the new form coalition as a kinder and gentler
administration.

Soon after the announcements, Mr Kennett anointed his old friend Rob Knowles as his likely
successor and a possible deputy leader on his attempted move to the lower house.

Mr Kennett's embrace of the health minister can be seen as an attempt to counter the
impression of a government losing experience and knowledge.

Mr Kennett buttressed the choice with the controversial support of younger, up-and-coming
talent in the form of Tourism and Small Business Minister Louise Asher, who subsequently won
preselection for the Melbourne suburban seat of Brighton.

AAP pjb/jlw/er/dmc

KEYWORD: POLLVIC MINISTERS

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