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The 2021 Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division) leadership election was a leadership vote held on 5 October 2021 to elect a new leader of the New South Wales Division of the Liberal Party of Australia and subsequently the Premier of New South Wales, following the resignation of Gladys Berejiklian. The election was conducted among the Liberal Party members of the Parliament of New South Wales and contested between Dominic Perrottet and Rob Stokes. Perrottet won the election 39 votes to 5.^[2] Stuart Ayres was elected unopposed as deputy party leader.

The leadership election was the first time Liberal Party parliamentary members had to vote for a leader in almost twenty years. The previous occurrence was in 2002, which was contested between incumbent Kerry Chikarovski and John Brogden.^[3]

A separate leadership election for the Liberal Party's coalition partner, the NSW Nationals, was held the following day.

Background

Gladys Berejiklian announced her resignation as premier and the leader of the party on 1 October 2021 following the announcement by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) would be investigating her role regarding grants in the Riverina region of New South Wales between 2012 and 2018. Part of the investigation is also looking into her previous relationship with former MP Daryl Maguire who had held the seat of Wagga Wagga from 1999 until his resignation in 2018. Appearing before the ICAC on 14 October 2020, Maguire admitted that he used his position as a member of parliament and as a Parliamentary Secretary to make money for himself and his associates.^[4]^[5] Berejiklian's resignation came at a time when the state was managing the prolonged effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reports by various media sources on 3 October indicated that Dominic Perrottet, the current Treasurer of New South Wales had secured a factional deal to become Premier with Stuart Ayres as his deputy.^[6] However, Stokes confirmed that he would still contest the leadership election so that "factional heavyweights don't have a say" on 4 October.^[7]

Candidates

Declared

Dominic Perrottet, Treasurer and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party in New South Wales

List of Dominic Perrottet endorsements

Federal members of parliament

John Howard, Liberal Leader and Prime Minister of Australia (1996–2007)^[8]

Newspapers and Media Organisations

Australian Financial Review^[9]

Rob Stokes, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces

Declined

Andrew Constance, Minister for Transport and Roads (seeking preselection as the Liberal Party candidate for the Division of Gilmore at the 2022 Australian federal election, preselected successful though Constance was not elected to Gilmore)
Mark Speakman, Attorney-General, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, Leader of the House
Stuart Ayres, Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney (ran for Deputy Leader)
Matt Kean, Minister for Energy and Environment

References

Notes

^ Also known as "right" faction.

Citations

^ ^a ^b Smith, Alexandra (1 October 2021). "Perrottet and Stokes emerge as frontrunners for NSW Premier". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Sources from Mr Perrottet's right faction believe the 39-year-old father-of-six has the support within the Liberal Party room to take over the leadership. A source who was not authorised to speak on internal party matters said Mr Perrottet had the backing of his faction as well as a large proportion of moderates MPs and three unaligned MPs. However, the moderates are the dominant faction and Mr Stokes could emerge as their preferred candidate, with Mr Perrottet as his deputy.
^ Cockburn, Paige (5 October 2021). "Dominic Perrottet becomes 46th NSW Premier after winning Liberal leadership vote". ABC News. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
^ Lyons, Erin (5 October 2021). "Dominic Perrottet has been voted NSW Premier: Here's what you should know about the new leader". NCA NewsWire. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2021 – via news.com.au.
^ "Further Operation Keppel public inquiry" (Press release). Sydney: ICAC. 1 October 2021. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023. The Commission is investigating whether, between 2012 and 2018, the Hon Gladys Berejiklian MP engaged in conduct that:... * was liable to allow or encourage the occurrence of corrupt conduct by Mr Maguire.
^ "Gladys Berejiklian resigns as NSW Premier after ICAC probe into her relationship with Daryl Maguire announced". ABC News. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
^ Smith, Alexandra; Cormack, Lucy; Rabe, Tom (3 October 2021). "Deal struck for Dominic Perrottet to become premier, Stuart Ayres his deputy". Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
^ Cockburn, Paige (4 October 2021). "Rob Stokes stays in race to be next NSW premier so 'factional heavyweights' don't have final say". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Sydney. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
^ Smith, Alexandra; Rabe, Tom (2 October 2021). "'The best person': John Howard backs Dominic Perrottet for NSW Premier". Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
^ "'Perrottet the right choice to lead NSW's post-pandemic economic rebuild". Australian Financial Review. Sydney. 3 October 2021. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2021.