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Gladys Berejiklian to be NSW premier after unopposed election as Liberal leader Gladys Berejiklian to be NSW premier after unopposed election as Liberal leader
(about 2 hours later)
Gladys Berejiklian will become New South Wales’ 45th premier after being elected unopposed as the leader of the Liberal party.Gladys Berejiklian will become New South Wales’ 45th premier after being elected unopposed as the leader of the Liberal party.
As expected on Monday morning, the Liberal party room chose Berejiklian as its leader, with the finance minister, Dominic Perrottet, her deputy. The meeting lasted less than 15 minutes.As expected on Monday morning, the Liberal party room chose Berejiklian as its leader, with the finance minister, Dominic Perrottet, her deputy. The meeting lasted less than 15 minutes.
Berejiklian, formerly the state’s treasurer, was widely tipped to have the numbers, and her two likely competitors, Rob Stokes and Andrew Constance, pulled out of the race on Friday. She was expected to be sworn in later on Monday at a ceremony at Government House.Berejiklian, formerly the state’s treasurer, was widely tipped to have the numbers, and her two likely competitors, Rob Stokes and Andrew Constance, pulled out of the race on Friday. She was expected to be sworn in later on Monday at a ceremony at Government House.
She will face immediate challenges. Her Nationals counterparts, led by John Barilaro, have already vowed to stop council amalgamations and Berejiklian will be forced to take on her predecessor Mike Baird’s controversial polices on lockout laws, WestConnex and the reversal of the greyhound ban.She will face immediate challenges. Her Nationals counterparts, led by John Barilaro, have already vowed to stop council amalgamations and Berejiklian will be forced to take on her predecessor Mike Baird’s controversial polices on lockout laws, WestConnex and the reversal of the greyhound ban.
Berejiklian, speaking to 2GB radio immediately after the vote, said she would sit down with Barilaro on Monday afternoon to discuss council amalgamations. She had met with him on Sunday.Berejiklian, speaking to 2GB radio immediately after the vote, said she would sit down with Barilaro on Monday afternoon to discuss council amalgamations. She had met with him on Sunday.
“I do appreciate what sections of the community are saying to us in that regard and also what our colleagues are saying to us,” she said.“I do appreciate what sections of the community are saying to us in that regard and also what our colleagues are saying to us,” she said.
Berejiklian said she would take about a week to decide her cabinet. Berejiklian said she would take about a week to decide her cabinet. She would not be drawn on the fate of health minister, Jillian Skinner, who faced controversy for the baby gassing tragedy and chemotherapy under-dosing in NSW hospitals.
She would not be drawn on the fate of health minister, Jillian Skinner, who faced controversy for the baby gassing tragedy and chemotherapy under-dosing in NSW hospitals.
But Berejiklian confirmed Perrottet would be treasurer, despite Barilaro reportedly wanting the job.But Berejiklian confirmed Perrottet would be treasurer, despite Barilaro reportedly wanting the job.
“Yesterday, when Mr Barilaro and his deputy and myself and my prospective deputy met, I can confirm that Mr Barilaro congratulated Dom on Dom assuming the treasurer’s role,” she said.“Yesterday, when Mr Barilaro and his deputy and myself and my prospective deputy met, I can confirm that Mr Barilaro congratulated Dom on Dom assuming the treasurer’s role,” she said.
Berejiklian used her first media conference as leader to prioritise local issues. She said she wanted to ensure success was spread across the state, and pledged to make local infrastructure a priority. Berejiklian used her first media conference as leader to prioritise local issues. She said she wanted to ensure success was spread across the state, and pledged to make local infrastructure a priority. “I know what difference it is to a community if a dirt road becomes a bitumen road,” she said.
“I know what difference it is to a community if a dirt road becomes a bitumen road,” she said. Berejiklian also spoke strongly in favour of the Gonski education reforms, a position that could lead to conflict with her federal counterparts. She drew from her own experience of starting school without being able to speak English.
“I want to pay tribute to the teachers who, during my life at school in the public education system, saw something in me and encouraged it,” she said.
“That is why you will have in me, the strongest supporter of Gonski. I know what a public education can do for somebody. If I didn’t have access to that education, I wouldn’t be standings before you here today.”
“I want every person in New South Wales, no matter where they live, to feel that they have the choices and the opportunities to be their best.”
Housing affordability was also listed as a priority, although, when asked how she would reduce house prices, Berejiklian largely spoke of supply-side measures already taken by the government.Housing affordability was also listed as a priority, although, when asked how she would reduce house prices, Berejiklian largely spoke of supply-side measures already taken by the government.
She said a number of new initiatives would be announced in the “near future”. “I believe supply is the best way we can address housing affordability,” she said. “I am someone who will listen and someone who has an open mind. I strongly believe supply is the best way to address housing affordability.”She said a number of new initiatives would be announced in the “near future”. “I believe supply is the best way we can address housing affordability,” she said. “I am someone who will listen and someone who has an open mind. I strongly believe supply is the best way to address housing affordability.”
She said she would push ahead with the reversal of the greyhound ban and would not seek to soften the government’s approach to law and order, describing NSW bail laws as some of the toughest in the state.She said she would push ahead with the reversal of the greyhound ban and would not seek to soften the government’s approach to law and order, describing NSW bail laws as some of the toughest in the state.
Berejiklian stressed that the change in leadership did not mean that all the government’s policies would be changed.Berejiklian stressed that the change in leadership did not mean that all the government’s policies would be changed.
“I want to make very clear, there is so much to be proud of in New South Wales, so much that our government has done well and to suggest that everything is up for grabs, it wouldn’t be an accurate description,” she said. “But to suggest that I will listen on issues which obviously are causing angst for people, of course I will do that.”“I want to make very clear, there is so much to be proud of in New South Wales, so much that our government has done well and to suggest that everything is up for grabs, it wouldn’t be an accurate description,” she said. “But to suggest that I will listen on issues which obviously are causing angst for people, of course I will do that.”
Berejiklian was born in Sydney to Armenian parents and spoke no English when she started primary school.
“My family are just overwhelmed and so proud,” Berejiklian told 2GB. “My dad was a boilermaker, my mother was a nurse … They gave up a lot and kept reminding my sisters and I every week, ‘You girls don’t know how lucky you are.’
“And I think today they feel vindicated in the way they raised us as kids.”
Berejiklian has six years’ experience in the ministry in the transport and treasury portfolios. She pledged to make her own mark on the role of premier and said one of the key challenges was ensuring success was spread across all areas of the state.Berejiklian has six years’ experience in the ministry in the transport and treasury portfolios. She pledged to make her own mark on the role of premier and said one of the key challenges was ensuring success was spread across all areas of the state.
“What I would like to do, how I would like to make my mark, is to make sure that every corner of NSW gets its fair share,” she said. “We are in a very strong position, we need to make sure that everybody shares in the benefits of that.”“What I would like to do, how I would like to make my mark, is to make sure that every corner of NSW gets its fair share,” she said. “We are in a very strong position, we need to make sure that everybody shares in the benefits of that.”
The opposition leader, Luke Foley, questioned Berejiklian’s commitment to housing affordability. Foley said as treasurer Berejiklian had knocked back several policy initiatives brought forward by the planning minister, Rob Stokes.
He said simply relying on supply-side measures would not work. “The premier has to depart from her stubborn refusal to consider policy solutions other than simply building more homes,” Foley said.
Foley said Berejiklian, despite the rhetoric on school funding, had actually contributed to the deterioration of state schools while treasurer.
He said the “rivers of gold” from the NSW property boom should have allowed the state to invest in schools. Instead, he said class sizes were increasing, literacy and numeracy were deteriorating, and technical and further education was being cut.
“It’s all well and good for her to talk about her support for education, but as treasurer she shortchanged the state’s schools,” he said.