The government made two decisions on Wednesday that represent a win for common sense.

First, it did away with the regional minister for the Illawarra, a position that had become a byword for failure, farce and scandal.

In the 12 years it has existed, six different ministers have held that post.

One, Matt Brown, was said to have danced drunk in his underpants and quit in disgrace.

Another, Paul McLeay, visited porn websites on his parliamentary computer. He too slunk out in disgrace.

David Campbell resigned after he was secretly filmed leaving a gay sex club in Sydney.

A fourth, Eric Roozendaal, lost the role when voters gave Labor the flick in 2011 – but did anyone even notice?

A fifth, Greg Pearce, was sacked over a conflict of interest.

And now the sixth, John Ajaka, is out because his government abolished the position altogether.

If the last 12 years are any guide to the standard of representation this region can expect, that is a good thing.

We deserve better – and now, with the government’s second common sense decision, we have got it.

That decision was to make Kiama MP Gareth Ward responsible for representing this region’s interests.

True, Mr Ward will be a dedicated parliamentary secretary, not a minister.

But if that sounds like a downgrading of this region’s significance, think again.

For what matters most is not the title but the quality of representation.

Mr Ward was born, bred and educated in the Illawarra.

He has represented his electorate with passion and with great effectiveness.

His task now is to put that same passion and energy into ensuring his government delivers for the entire region.

The Mercury is confident Mr Ward will take that responsibility seriously – but we must offer a word of caution.

Mr Ward will have no choice but to work with the region’s other members, three of whom are Labor.

The voters of Wollongong, Keira and Shellharbour will take a keen interest in how he manages this.

Will he fight for the entire region, or will he be sidetracked by his often bitter differences with those members, in particular, the members for Wollongong, Noreen Hay, and Shellharbour, Anna Watson?

The Mercury believes Mr Ward is bigger and better than that.

But it is up to him to prove us right.

Over to you, Gareth.