Opposition responds to Dominic Perrottet’s admission that he wore Nazi uniform

A senior Labor member has responded to the Premier’s Nazi birthday costume, describing the Liberal Party as “intent on destroying itself”.

The NSW opposition has broken its silence, lashing the Liberal Party as a “government that seems to be intent on destroying itself” after Dominic Perrottet made the startling confession that he wore a Nazi uniform to his 21st uniform-themed birthday party.

Deputy Labor leader Prue Car said it wasn’t up to her or the party to “absolve Dominic Perrottet”; however, the latest incident revealed a “government in chaos”.

“We have another internal Liberal Party brawl playing out in the public,” she said.

“This government cannot govern itself, how can it govern the state in 71 days time?”

The comments refer to revelations that Liberal Transport Minister David Elliott contacted Mr Perrottet on Tuesday evening and spoke to him about the Nazi uniform. On Thursday, Mr Perrottet said the call with Mr Elliott caused him to reflect and realise he “needed to tell the truth and not someone else”.

NSW Labor deputy leader Prue Car says Dominic Perrottet’s admission that he dressed up as a Nazi on his 21st birthday was another example of ‘internal brawling’ within the Liberal Party. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Damian Shaw

Making the comment while announcing Labor’s commitment to upgrade Darcy Road Public School in Sydney’s west, Ms Car highlighted the Liberals’ bitter preselection battles and said the Nazi admission was evidence of further “internal brawling”. She also criticised the party politics occurring at a time while NSW was still grappling with recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Now they seem to be threatening each other with photos from 20 years ago,” she continued.

“Is this a sort of government that the people of NSW deserve? They’ll have their chance to better have a say on that in 70 days time,” she said.

Question Perrottet won’t answer

On Friday morning, Mr Perrottet faced cameras and media for the first time after making the startling admission.

The Premier faced a barrage of questions while attending a press conference at Ryde Hospital on Friday alongside Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Customer Service and Digital Government Minister Victor Dominello.

Premier Dominic Perrottet addressed media the day after he confessed to wearing a Nazi uniform at his 21st birthday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Seb Haggett

The Premier was forced to confront how the transgression would affect the Coalition’s performance at the March state election, a mere 10 weeks away.

During the press conference he continued to dodge questions around whether there were other parliamentarians at the event.

“It is not about other people,” he said.

“No one was involved. I was involved. It was me. I made a terrible mistake,” he said.

Mr Perrottet continued to remain firm that he was not aware of a photo taken from that night and said he had “no recollection” of making a Nazi salute while wearing the uniform. When asked, he also said he had not been blackmailed.

“I am not aware of a photograph. I am not aware of one that exists,” he said.

He looked visibly emotional and shaken while making the admission on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Seb Haggett

Mr Perrottet said colleagues had contacted him overnight and he “appreciated their support”.

“I have had overwhelming support from my colleagues,” he said.

“It is ultimately not about me in relation to this, it is about the hurt that the mistake I made caused many people across our community and I am terribly sorry for that,” he said.

Despite this, he wouldn’t confirm whether a party room meeting would be held in the coming days, adding that it was “a matter for the members of the party”.

Mr Perrottet said he had been moved to made the astonishing admission after he was contacted by a member of his cabinet two days ago. Later it was revealed by 7 News that it was NSW Transport Minister David Elliott who made the call on Tuesday evening.

Mr Perrottet continued to apologise to the Jewish community and hoped there would be learning opportunities from his mistake.

Mr Perrottet apologised to the Jewish community. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Seb Haggett

Ministers back Perrottet

Once the charged press conference ended, retiring ministers, Mr Dominello and Mr Hazzard told media the Premier still had their backing.

Mr Hazzard, who worked with the Premier during the state’s Covid response, said he was an “extraordinary good Premier”.

“Without him doing the job that he did as part of the crisis cabinet as treasurer when we went through 2½ years of our darkest times, it would have been a completely different outcome,” Mr Hazard said.

“He has done an incredible job and that is all I am prepared to say and I am prepared to back him.”

Brad Hazzard shared his ongoing public support of the Premier. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Seb Haggett

Mr Dominello also shared his support, saying that he “absolutely backed” the state Liberal leader.

“I was one of the five ministerial people on that crisis cabinet and I saw Dom in the darkest days and I saw how important the health of people were to the people of NSW,” he said.

“If you want vision, look at the courage he is doing in relation to gambling reform. This is generational leadership we are talking about, courageous leadership.

“I absolutely back him in every day of the week.”

Premier’s big admission

Speaking to media on Thursday, Mr Perrottet said he had been moved to make the astonishing admission after he was contacted by a member of his cabinet two days ago.

“When it was raised to me two days ago, I realised I needed to tell the truth and not someone else,” he told reporters, visibly shaken and emotional.

Later it was revealed by 7 News that it was NSW Transport Minister David Elliott who made the call on Tuesday evening.

David Elliott has been revealed as the cabinet member who called Mr Perrottet and spoke to him about the Nazi uniform. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ David Swift

The news comes two days after Mr Elliott said he would remove himself from cabinet decisions around cashless gambling reform after it was revealed his son works for pokie giant Aristocrat.

Previously, Mr Elliott said policies around a cashless gaming card for poker machines led to “demonising one sort of gambling”. He also shared concerns that Nationals members of the Coalition had expressed.

“We’ve got to make sure we don’t demonise one only to push the problem gamblers into other forms of gambling,” Mr Elliott said.

When asked whether he feared “political revenge” over his stance on gambling, Mr Perrottet once again sidestepped the question and said: “It is not about that.”

Perrottet apologises to the Jewish community

After the announcement, Mr Perrottet made several calls to Jewish leaders and attended a meeting at the Sydney Jewish Museum. He also penned an open letter to the Jewish community and the Returned and Services League of NSW (NSW RSL), which was provided to veterans and their families.

I’m deeply sorry for a terrible mistake I made at my 21st birthday party. pic.twitter.com/ESnx8LwVjG

— Dom Perrottet (@Dom_Perrottet) January 12, 2023

In the open letter addressed to “members of the Jewish community,” Mr Perrottet said he reflected on his “decision in 2003 with shame” and hoped it would lead to greater education about the Holocaust.

“While I cannot change that decision, I am resolved to redouble my efforts to combat anti-Semitism and help young people to avoid making the same mistake I made,” he wrote.

“It is my hope that something good can come from this terrible mistake, and I am determined to continue to do everything I can to fight anti-Semitism and make NSW a safe and welcoming place for all who call it home.”

Originally published as Opposition responds to Dominic Perrottet’s admission that he wore Nazi uniform