KEY POINTS:
Incoming Prime Minister John Key has rewarded up-and-coming MPs in his first Cabinet, promoting several fresh faces over more-experienced colleagues and former ministers.
The biggest bolter in the ministry announced yesterday is Waitakere MP Paula Bennett, who has been entrusted with the hefty Ministry of Social Development.
She is just one of six new ministers who entered Parliament as recently as 2005 or, in one case, last week.
At their first Cabinet meeting tomorrow afternoon, Mr Key will give his team a clear message that he expects them to perform.
"I intend to use 45 minutes to an hour to talk about my expectations of the Cabinet, and to ensure that they're actually properly briefed on the way they should be handling officials and chief executives, and the expectations of them," Mr Key said.
"I expect high standards of my ministers."
National's relatively inexperienced Cabinet inevitably contains winners and losers, and Ms Bennett is the biggest gamble.
She came into Parliament in 2005 and despite shining with her bubbly personality and commitment, Minister of Social Development and Employment will be a big step up.
Mr Key said he was willing to back people like Ms Bennett.
"I'm the sort of person who's going to reward people if I think that they've got the skills," he said.
The other obvious winner is Steven Joyce, who will play a big role in National's infrastructure push after being elected to Parliament as a list MP last week. He's landed the portfolios of transport, communications and associate finance.
Attorney-General Chris Finlayson, Trade Minister Tim Groser, Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman and Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson are the other new ministers who have been in Parliament for a maximum of just three years.
Trailing in their wake is a group of experienced campaigners who do not appear to have much of a future at the top of the party.
Among them is Pakuranga MP Maurice Williamson, who has been demoted from National's front bench to a ranking of 21 and a position as minister outside Cabinet. He takes on the building and construction, customs, small business and statistics portfolios.
Mr Key denied the slide down the rankings was punishment for Mr Williamson's controversial musings on toll roads during the election campaign.
"I don't think I'd put it down to that," he said. "He's got a really important contribution to make, but it'll be a contribution from outside Cabinet."
Mr Williamson did not respond to a request for an interview yesterday.
There is some risk that unhappy MPs may make life difficult for Mr Key.
Aside from Mr Williamson, Richard Worth is likely to be disappointed at missing out on becoming Speaker - a position that went to the long-serving Lockwood Smith.
Dr Worth also did not return a call from the Herald.
Mr Key said he had emphasised to the caucus last Tuesday that they were there because the National Party was a long and established organisation. He was not worried disappointed MPs might turn against him.
Unlucky MPs who are likely to be knocking on the Cabinet door in the next three years include Otaki MP Nathan Guy and Napier's Chris Tremain.
Mr Key phoned unnamed MPs who were close to selection to assure them there would be opportunities for them in the future.
The Cabinet has 20 National MPs. Another eight MPs from National and supporting parties hold portfolios outside the Cabinet.
