UPDATE:
SITTING Member for Castle Hill, Ray Williams, has vowed he will contest the seat of Castle Hill at next year’s state election, in defiance of the Deputy Leader Dominic Perrottet’s decision.
“My community is everything to me and I will be contesting the seat of Castle Hill at the next election and will continue to work hard on behalf of my local community,” said Mr Williams in a statement.
“Under no circumstance will I run away from the good people of Castle Hill who have shown such loyalty to myself and my family over the past decade and a half, giving me one of the strongest margins in NSW.”
He has called for Mr Perrottet to step down as Deputy Liberal Leader.
EARLIER:
TREASURER and Member for Hawkesbury Dominic Perrottet will not be re-running for the seat of Hawkesbury in the 2019 NSW state election, he said in a statement today (Friday, September 21).
Instead, he will be nominating to stand for the NSW Liberals in the seat of Castle Hill, where he has ties.
“This is not a decision I have taken lightly and comes after a great deal of reflection and discussions with my family and colleagues,” he said in the statement.
He said he believes the decision is in the best interests of the people of NSW whom he serves as both Treasurer as as a local member, as well as for his young family, and “ultimately for the continuation of strong government by the NSW Liberals & Nationals”.
“When I first nominated for Hawkesbury, my wife Helen and I had three children, and I was still a backbencher able to commit 100 per cent of my working life to the electorate,” he said in the statement.
“Since then, my wife and I have been blessed with two more children, and I have had the great honour of serving, first as a Minister and now as Treasurer of NSW.
“This means I have three key commitments in my life: being a good husband and dad to five children, discharging my duties as Treasurer, and working hard to represent my electorate.”
He said looking to the future he was concerned he would be unable to give the people of Hawkesbury “the level of representation they deserve and best discharge my service to all of NSW as Treasurer.”
He thanked the residents of Hawkesbury who “warmly welcomed” him into the community.
“I intend to continue serving in my role as deputy leader of the NSW Liberal Party and as Treasurer of the state,” he said.
“My resolve to help the Government continue to deliver a strong economy, jobs and opportunity for all people will not lessen.”
Mr Perrottet said he had informed current member for Castle Hill, Ray Williams, of his decision earlier today.
“I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge Ray’s service to the people of NSW and also to the Liberal Party,” he said.
“No matter the outcome he has my respect and gratitude for his dedication over many years.”