The Committee for Economic Development of Australia's annual health outlook lunch is one of Jillian Skinner's favourite events on the calendar.
The biggest health policy wonk in a tent of health policy wonks, it is her opportunity to disseminate the micro-detail of the government's plans to a knowing audience - her own Jilly Wonka's chocolate factory.
But she arrived at the Four Seasons Hotel on Tuesday breathless, with her pendant necklace swung wildly to one side, after a morning spent defending her job over revelations that a baby had died in a medical error at Bankstown Hospital.
"She found out about this a few days ago and then she frocks up to go to the theatre," the opposition leader Luke Foley cried.
As Mrs Skinner raced through Powerpoint slides on how beautifully the health system was meeting its targets, it was not clear whether she was still fighting for her job or issuing a valedictory speech.
As she moved into her preferred territory of innovation and technology, her pendant dropped back into position and she regaled her audience with the many happy and humbling times that her efforts had resulted in appreciative doctors and patients.
"... I was really thrilled when people started talking about [integrated care] because I wrote the policy document - I write nearly all my policy documents - before any of the COAG health reporters came in under Kevin Rudd..."
Premier Mike Baird is said to be considering a cabinet reshuffle, in which he would have to at least consider retiring his 71-year-old health minister to make way for new talent.
But this sympathetic crowd did not share Luke Foley's outrage. One woman stood up to tell the story of her friend who had recently visited an emergency department and spied Mrs Skinner observing the action from the waiting room.
"That really is an indication of the way you collect your evidence," the woman said.
Mrs Skinner gave a closed lips smile, and nodded her head.
