SONIA Hornery has taken her sacking as Parliamentary Secretary for Roads in her stride and will march on in her fight to keep Wallsend Aged Care Facility in public hands.
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Ms Hornery said she would continue to oppose privatisation despite it being mooted as one of the reasons for her sacking.
The Wallsend MP was another victim of the ministerial clean-out after Premier Nathan Rees was given power to select his cabinet at the State ALP Conference at the weekend.
She was joined by more than 20 supporters at the facility yesterday where she told the gathering she had been sacked, but vowed to fight on.
"The Premier rang me and told me he was removing me from my duty as parliamentary secretary for roads," Ms Hornery said.
"He told me the reason for my sacking was because of my opposition to the Government on some issues.
"I can only assume those issues are my support of community when they asked me to help keep public utilities in public hands."
Ms Hornery cited her opposition to the privatisation of Cessnock Correctional Centre, the power industry and the Wallsend Aged Care Facility as possible reasons for her demotion.
Minister for the Hunter Jodi McKay helped officially open some EnergyAustralia Stadium works yesterday but declined to be drawn on the cabinet spill.
"I welcome the new cabinet and look forward to working with my new cabinet colleagues," Ms McKay said.
"The Premier continues to have my full support."
Ms McKay, who entered parliament on March 24, 2007, along with former Newcastle councillor Sonia Hornery, moves to 11th place in the NSW Cabinet in terms of seniority.