NSW leadership LIVE updates Dominic Perrottet Rob Stokes to challenge for NSW Liberal leadership

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The Sydney Morning Herald’s state political editor Alexandra Smith yesterday joined Bianca Hall on the Please Explain podcast to discuss Gladys Berejiklian’s downfall and what sort of premier her likely successor Dominic Perrottet might be.

The discussion follows a tumultuous few days in state politics, after Ms Berejiklian announced her resignation on Friday.

She said she had been informed on Thursday afternoon of the Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation.

You can listen to that podcast episode below.

Departing Deputy Premier John Barilaro says the corruption watchdog’s independence would have been undermined had it delayed an announcement into its inquiry into Gladys Berejiklian.

Mr Barilaro yesterday revealed he would resign as NSW Nationals leader and quit state politics to pave the way for the incoming premier to appoint a new cabinet to take to the 2023 election.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro addressing the media yesterday. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

In an interview with the Herald, Mr Barilaro said he took the work of the Independent Commission Against Corruption “very, very seriously” and its importance should never be dismissed.

Asked whether the timing of the ICAC’s public hearing into Ms Berejiklian was inappropriate given the critical stage of the pandemic, Mr Barilaro said: “No.”

The NSW Nationals will meet tomorrow to elect a new leader.

Deputy leader Paul Toole on Monday morning said he would spend the next 24 hours considering “how best I can serve our party”, while Water Minister Melinda Pavey has thrown her hat in the ring.

Read the full story here.

Coffee in hand, government whip Adam Crouch has arrived to a waiting media scrum at Parliament ahead of the NSW Liberals party room meeting.

The Terrigal MP will be announcing the result of the ballot and the new leader after the 10am vote.

He would not be drawn on who he was supporting but said: “I’m sure everything will go very smoothly.”

Adam Crouch arrives ahead of the NSW Liberal Party room meeting. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

Planning Minister and leadership candidate Rob Stokes has arrived, looking fairly jolly, as has Police Minister David Elliott.

NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes ahead of the leadership ballot.Credit:Louise Kennerley

NSW Police Minister David Elliott on Tuesday morning. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

Moderate powerbroker Matt Kean had the first part of the puzzle solved by Friday night. The long-time confidant of Gladys Berejiklian had locked in at least a dozen of his factional colleagues to support his choice to replace her.

NSW Environment and Energy Minister Matt Kean at a press conference with Gladys Berejiklian last month. Credit:Edwina Pickles

Kean, who has cemented his progressive credentials through building a reputation as a climate warrior, had convinced a solid block of fellow moderates that right-wing Treasurer Dominic Perrottet was the Liberals’ best bet to win the 2023 election.

Kean would be his deputy and Treasurer. It had long been assumed that in the Berejiklian succession planning, a deal had been struck that would see a Perrottet/Kean ticket presented to the Liberal party room. If it was not a deal, it was at least an understanding.

After talks all day Sunday, Perrottet asked Kean at about 5pm to stand aside as deputy for Jobs Minister Stuart Ayres. Kean would still be Treasurer.

Read the full story here.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison was asked what he thought of NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet during his appearance on Sunrise earlier this morning.

Co-host David Koch pointed out our columnist Niki Savva’s revelations that the PM lost his temper and swore at Mr Perrottet during a recent meeting to discuss the JobSaver program.

Mr Morrison had this to say in response:

Dominic and I have been working together for years.

We’ve known each other for a long time and we have an honest relationship and we ... get a lot done together.

When we disagree, we disagree. The next day we get back to work. That is how normal people get on with each other when they know each other well. And we do.

NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes has not backed down overnight and will run as a candidate against Treasurer Dominic Perrottet to lead the NSW Liberals and become Premier.

“I gave my word that I would, so I’m going to follow it through,” Mr Stokes told 2GB radio this morning.

He said it was expected Mr Perrottet’s supporters would spruik that he already had the numbers, but he is providing the party room with another option.

“I’m always in it to win it, I’m enormously confident,” Mr Stokes said.

“I’ve got a lot to offer, I know Dominic does too. He’s a great friend and would make a great leader.

“But I’m running because I also think that I’ve got a great vision for the future of the state and I want to give my colleagues a choice.”

Asked whether other MPs would follow the resignations of Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Transport Minister Andrew Constance, Mr Stokes said: “No one I’ve chatted to, but that’s a matter for them.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said, adding that he had committed to a four-year term.

“I’m a man of my word, that’s why I’m running today ... I’m the first person to put up their hand to say I would have a go.”

He also briefly commented on the Independent Commission Against Corruption, which on Friday announced it was investigating Gladys Berejiklian.

“I was on the ICAC Committee of the Parliament many years ago, and I was convinced that the Hong Kong model, where investigations are done in private, is appropriate,” he said.

“I’ve always thought that. I also believe that a strong integrity agency is a hallmark of a good, functioning democracy, it’s all about balance.”

Outgoing Deputy Premier John Barilaro insists Dominic Perrottet’s faith has seen him unfairly portrayed as ultraconservative and says he has matured as a leader during his years as Treasurer.

Mr Perrottet is the frontrunner to replace Gladys Berejiklian, but Attorney-General Mark Speakman warned a conference call of moderate Liberal MPs on Monday night that the Treasurer would be the “most conservative Premier the state has had since World War II”.

Dominic Perrottet on Monday. Credit:Nick Moir

Mr Perrottet faces a leadership ballot against Planning Minister Rob Stokes today to decide the next premier of NSW after Ms Berejiklian’s shock resignation on Friday.

Read the full story here.

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of today’s vote, as the NSW Liberals meet to elect a new leader who will become the state’s 46th premier.

Government whip Adam Crouch will announce the new leader at the completion of the 10am party room meeting.

Dominic Perrottet (left) and Rob Stokes (right) are vying to be NSW’s next premier.Credit:Kate Geraghty, Louise Kennerley

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet is the frontrunner and will nominate Jobs Minister Stuart Ayres as his deputy.

He has indicated if he’s endorsed as Premier, he will explore bringing forward NSW’s reopening date to Friday, with the state due to hit its 70 per cent full vaccination target on Wednesday or Thursday.

But Planning Minister Rob Stokes insists he is a strong candidate for the job and has committed to addressing a lack of gender diversity by promoting more women to cabinet if he is chosen.

At a party room meeting on Wednesday, Deputy Premier John Barilaro will formally resign and call for a ballot for a new leader of the NSW Nationals.

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