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The Daily Telegraph (Australia)
April 18, 2014 Friday
Praise for efforts as transport minister
by Geoff Chambers
GLADYS Berejiklian is described by her supporters as "the story of
Australia". The 43-year-old, of Armenian descent, is the daughter of a
boilermaker and nurse from Ryde.
Hornsby MP Matt Kean - who backed her in the leadership ballot -
described Ms Berejiklian as the party's "peacemaker".
"Her story is the story of Australia - migrant family came out here
with nothing, dad was a welder, mum was a nurse. If ever you wanted to
smash the public perception of the Liberal Party - Gladys is it," Mr
Kean said. "She barely spoke a word of English when she went to
school. She left school with top marks, became a senior executive at
the Commonwealth Bank, president of the Young Liberals, and now one of
the state's best-ever transport ministers." Former state transport
minister and Premier Mike Baird's father Bruce also described Ms
Berejiklian - a close friend of federal Treasurer Joe Hockey - as the
state's best minister when it came to his old role.
The Baird government is expected to use transport and infrastructure
projects as its bedrock at next year's election."When I look at what
she's achieved in terms of a whole series of measures - northwest rail
line, southwest rail link, on time running, cleanliness of trains,
privatisation of the ferries, the Opal card, the overhaul of state
rail - these are quite significant reforms," Mr Baird Sr said. The
Willoughby MP will remain committed to those reforms, keeping the
Transport Minister role despite her elevation.
April 18, 2014 Friday
Praise for efforts as transport minister
by Geoff Chambers
GLADYS Berejiklian is described by her supporters as "the story of
Australia". The 43-year-old, of Armenian descent, is the daughter of a
boilermaker and nurse from Ryde.
Hornsby MP Matt Kean - who backed her in the leadership ballot -
described Ms Berejiklian as the party's "peacemaker".
"Her story is the story of Australia - migrant family came out here
with nothing, dad was a welder, mum was a nurse. If ever you wanted to
smash the public perception of the Liberal Party - Gladys is it," Mr
Kean said. "She barely spoke a word of English when she went to
school. She left school with top marks, became a senior executive at
the Commonwealth Bank, president of the Young Liberals, and now one of
the state's best-ever transport ministers." Former state transport
minister and Premier Mike Baird's father Bruce also described Ms
Berejiklian - a close friend of federal Treasurer Joe Hockey - as the
state's best minister when it came to his old role.
The Baird government is expected to use transport and infrastructure
projects as its bedrock at next year's election."When I look at what
she's achieved in terms of a whole series of measures - northwest rail
line, southwest rail link, on time running, cleanliness of trains,
privatisation of the ferries, the Opal card, the overhaul of state
rail - these are quite significant reforms," Mr Baird Sr said. The
Willoughby MP will remain committed to those reforms, keeping the
Transport Minister role despite her elevation.