DENTURE

Ooooh… ‘Mum Jane’ was emanating wails of panic sounding like a fre brigade siren to my sensitive feline ears. ‘Leems, get here NOW, immediately, pronto, I’ve lost my “One Tooth” million dollar Denture and you have to help me fnd it.’ OMG, (it’s ‘Leemo Cat here) what a scenario. Firstly, I made her a cup of tea, (and popped a BEX powder in it) TOLD her to stop her screaming, sit down and SHUT UP! Next I asked her to please explain what the hell her ‘Denture’ was anyhow? Well, that bought a look of consternation to her wrinky face didn’t it? She sputtered out some words saying ‘Leems, my denture is a removable mouth appliance that replaces missing teeth and help restore my ability to chew and talk betterer; in other words, it’s a fake tooth that replaced the tooth I had removed in April. Hmmm? I thought to myself that anything that stopped her talking or chewing loudly would be of great advantage to myself but fgured it wise to leave my words for another time. OK, I suppose I should speak. (eeeek!) ‘OK Mum, when did you last see ‘Le Denture’ pray tell? More sputtering from her; quite awful to hear! ‘Leems, I removed it when I was watching ‘Q&A’ and put it in a clean tissue on the bookshelf by my TV chair. As is my habit, when it was time to ‘tidy up’ before bed time, I picked up that stuff that needed disposal, placing it in the kitchen bin to be sorted and put in the correct WHEELIE BIN outside. I made a big mistake Leems, I always dispose of used tissues and espying the one on the book shelf, I grabbed it as well. Out I went, into wheelie bin area and proceeded placing the appropriate rubbish to the right bin, then came inside. It was toothie brushing time and whilst this was happening I realised ‘Le Denture’ was not in its ‘soak overnight’ container in the bathroom. I went back to where I had PLACED it; it was GONE, Leems, gone gone gone! You MUST help me or we might go bankrupt replacing it.’ I believe I had fainted by this stage but was quickly aroused by a huge light in my eyes and Mum’s hysterical voice.

‘Leems, I think I’ve thrown ‘le Denture’ in the Green Bin ‘cos it was in a tissue, please carry the torch and come help me fnd it.’ I deserve more pay than I get to live with ‘Mum Jane’ but I went. As a cat, I obviously cannot ‘carry’ a torch, so I pushed/rolled it toward the Green Bin. The nightmare that unfolded was just that.

A NIGHTMARE

Mum lay the bin down on the ground and, wearing glovies, started rummaging through it whilst kinda lying inside it. As she was wearing long fannie PJ’s, sox, slippers, a beanie, AND a dressing gown this soon became quite a grubby messy environmentally unsafe search. She shouted rudely at me about the direction the torch was pointing but after some time, the shout of ‘Glory be to God Leems, I’ve found ‘Le Denture’ arose from the bin. Mum’s behaviour is becoming challenging really. But, I shall retire outside now and meditate for her recovery. Nitey with hopeful purrsies, Leemo.

The NSW Premier Chris Minns has announced the appointment of the Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffn, as the Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery.

Janelle Saffn experienced the devastation of a natural disaster when unprecedented foods hit the Northern Rivers in early 2022.

The Member for Lismore has remained a ferce advocate for her community’s recovery since the beginning and will have an even stronger voice – for the Northern Rivers and communities across NSW in this role.

This announcement represents another stage in the new Government’s reset of the Northern Rivers disaster recovery response.

Premier Minns met with local mayors and MPs from the Northern Rivers in June to directly listen to their concerns.

The Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully, and the Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib, visited the region together last month to further hear community feedback and to see frst-hand how reconstruction programs are progressing and what more needed to be done.

The NSW Reconstruction Authority will continue under its current arrangements reporting to the Minister for Planning and the Minister for Emergency Services, now supported by the new Parliamentary Secretary.

Further strengthening the Government’s focus on natural disaster preparedness and recovery, Premier Minns announced NSW Reconstruction Authority chief executive offcer Simon Draper PSM as the new Secretary of the Premier’s Department.

Mr Draper’s experience will bolster the Premier’s Department’s wholeof-government disaster response coordination role and the department’s focus on supporting frontline agencies to deliver for communities.

Mr Draper’s appointment recognises his reputation as one of the state’s most respected and experienced public servants.

Simon Draper will commence in his role as Secretary of Premier’s Department on 1 September 2023.

Media Release

Janelle Saffn appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery amid key government appointments Premier Minns thanked outgoing Acting Secretary Peter Duncan AM who has overseen the establishment of the Cabinet Offce and the Premier’s Department since the March election. Further work will be undertaken in relation to the recruitment of the Secretary of the Cabinet Offce. Deputy Secretary, Policy William Murphy PSM will be Acting Secretary of the Cabinet Offce.

Mr Draper will continue as NSW Reconstruction Authority CEO as the state enters the summer bushfre season.

Simon Draper has worked in NSW Government for the last decade. He was a Deputy Secretary Economic Policy at the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Secretary of the Department of Industry and was CEO of Infrastructure NSW from 2019 to February 2023. He joined the newly formed NSW Reconstruction Authority as CEO in February 2023.

Prior to joining Government, Simon worked in the infrastructure, utility and energy sectors, as CEO of two airport companies (Northern Territory Airports and Wellington Airport in New Zealand), CEO of Lumo Energy, and General Manager Commercial at Integral Energy (now Endeavour Energy).

Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:

“Simon Draper is a highly regarded leader in the NSW public sector.

“A leader of Simon’s calibre qualifes him to head both the NSW Premier’s Department and continue his critical stewardship of the state’s disaster recovery and reconstruction efforts.

“I am thrilled that the Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffn has accepted the important role of Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery.

“Janelle is a tireless advocate for her community and, having personally faced a devastating natural disaster and its aftermath, I can think of no-one better for this role.”

Parliamentary Secretary

for Disaster Recovery

Janelle Saffn said:

“I’m honoured to take on the important role of Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery.

“I’ve seen frst-hand the devastation that natural disasters such as foods can cause communities such as my local Northern Rivers community.

“I’ve also experienced frst-hand the vital role that a well-coordinated response and recovery, throughout the shortterm and long-term stages of disaster recovery can play and the need for continuous improvement in preparedness.

“The better prepared, the better response, the better recovery.”

Incoming Secretary for the Premier’s Department, Simon Draper said:

“I am honoured to be appointed to this role leading the 430,000 outstanding public servants who work hard each day for the people of NSW.

“I have done many things in my career - I saw the best of what can be achieved when the public service came together during COVID and again in our work in the NSW Reconstruction Authority.

“I look forward to supporting the Premier and his priorities and driving effort from the