As the Treasurer and a resident of the eastern suburbs, how could Mr Roozendaal represent our needs?

In some ways it is academic. We have seven months until we go to the polls in NSW - and at this point, it would appear highly unlikely the Keneally Government will be returned.

Certainly we should be thankful as taxpayers for not having to pick up the tab for another person in the state Cabinet.

It would have been illuminating to be a fly on the wall as the Premier and her brains trust considered the candidates for the Minister for the Illawarra.

She had not ruled out Keira MP David Campbell from being readmitted to Cabinet after his fall from grace, but obviously she thought better of it.

Kiama MP Matt Brown is an ambitious man but publicly he is still trying to live down Undies-gate. That left Wollongong MP Noreen Hay as the most "senior" Illawarra MP - and then her acolyte Shellharbour MP Lylea McMahon.

In giving the post to Mr Roozendaal, the Premier seems to be signalling to constituents that she, too, is angry at the ongoing controversies in which our MPs have become involved. She may have just thought it wiser and safer to appoint someone close to home in the lead-up to the election.

On Friday, Mr Roozendaal declined to sign a Mercury pledge, which outlined what we felt was necessary for him to perform his duties - for a start, not disgracing himself in a sex scandal.

Instead, he made his own pledge - and if he sticks by that we ought to be pleased.

Mr Roozendaal, however, does not have the benefit of time to restore Labor's stocks in the Illawarra.

That said, with the bar set so low he does have it in his power to at least do something for the Illawarra aside from making it the object of ridicule and controversy.