New Premier for New South Wales

23 January 2017

The NSW Liberal party room has elected Gladys Berejiklian as Leader and Premier of New South Wales, following Mike Baird’s unexpected announcement last week that he was retiring from politics. Ms Berejilkian’s appointment makes her Australia’s first female Liberal State Premier – and the State’s second female Premier.

Finance Minister Dominic Perrottet was appointed Deputy Leader of the NSW Liberal Party at this morning’s party room meeting.

Ms Berejiklian said she will be “working hard for everyone, listening to everyone and governing for everyone”, and aims to reset the Coalition’s political agenda ahead of the next state election in 2019. She identified three policy areas for initial focus – local infrastructure, housing affordability and a strong economy. Ms Berejiklian also reiterated her ongoing support for the Gonski needs-based school funding system.

Ms Berejiklian thanked outgoing Premier Mike Baird for his service, saying his government had made NSW an economic powerhouse.

While the appointment of a new Premier and Deputy Premier has necessitated a reshuffle of the NSW Ministry, Ms Berejiklian has indicated this will not happen for up to a week. The pending reshuffle may also trigger a number of by-elections in Coalition-held seats in addition to the by-election that will be held for former Premier Mike Baird’s seat of Manly in the coming weeks.

Ms Berejiklian was sworn in as the 45th Premier of NSW by the NSW Governor, His Excellency General the Hon. David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d) this afternoon.