MEMBER for Hawkesbury Dominic Perrottet refused to confirm whether he had made a deal with Gladys Berejiklian to make her Premier of New South Wales and him Treasurer and deputy Leader of the Liberal Party.
Gladys Berejiklian has confirmed she will contest the party leadership, with an internal Liberal Party vote to be taken on Monday morning.
Fairfax Media has reported that Mr Perrottet and his right wing faction made a deal with Ms Berejiklian to support her as Premier.
It is understood Ms Berejiklian has asked Mr Perrottet to serve as the Treasurer.
As deputy Leader, Mr Perrottet would be able to pick his own portfolio regardless, though he refused to tell The Gazette what his intentions were.
“These are matters for the party room, what is most important is we don't focus on ourselves, we continue building on the great work Mike Baird has done for the state,” Mr Perrottet said.
“The reality is NSW is the leading state in the nation. We're leading the way economically and on providing essential infrastructure and services, but there is a lot more to do and we need to continue the legacy that Mike is leaving behind and continue to build on what we have already done.
“It is not a presidency, but it is a team around which is responsible for the success of the governemnt and we need to keep our focus on that and I am happy to serve in whatever capacity is asked of me.”
Before his resignation, Mike Baird was considering a cabinet reshuffle anyway, and Mr Perrottet, who is currently the Finance, Property and Services Minister, would again not be drawn on whether he would have sought another portfolio.
“If there was going to be a reshuffle, I would have served wherever I was asked and wherever people believed I could make the best contribution,” he said.
“It isn't about me. It is about how we deliver outcomes for the state and I will serve in any place where people believe I can make the best contribution.”
Mr Perrottet said he was shocked by Mr Baird’s decision to resign.
“I got a call in the morning from someone who told me,” he said.
“I am a little disappointed, because I know, from working very closely with Mike Baird over the last few years what an asset he is.
“I think a lot of time the public don't see the absolute dedication he took to the job and his conviction in making our state a better place to live.”
At a dinner in March last year at the Hawkesbury Race Club, Mike Baird said Mr Perrottet was a Premier of the future.
Mr Perrottet said he was flattered by the remark, but felt there were more qualified people than himself to be Premier.
“You always want to make a contribution in the best way to public life,” he said.
“I am of the view that public life is more than a profession, it is a vocation, and you want to be a in a position to make the highest contribution you can.
“From my perspective, I have a young family, and you can see the toll politics takes on people.
“I need to consider the demands of family life, representing my electorate and being a minister in the government. I did not consider at any stage putting my hand up as Premier. In my personal view there are better people in the party to serve as Premier.”
