Dominic and Helen Perrottet reveal home life in first interview

The premier’s wife has made a dig at her husband after he was mentioned in phone taps played to Gladys Berejiklian’s ICAC hearing.

He might be Premier of the state but at home Dominic Perrottet is still making school lunches and getting teased by his kids.

The new first lady of NSW, his wife Helen Perrottet, says very little has changed at home since her husband was elevated as the state’s youngest premier last month.

As Mrs Perrottet – a lawyer and major in the Army Reserve – and her husband prepare to welcome a seventh child in March, they have told The Daily Telegraph how they want to put to rest archaic stereotypes that go along with the idea of a big family.

Mr Perrottet declares he’s “just Dad” at home and isn’t defined by his job, and Mrs Perrottet tells how they both juggle career and parenthood – but family is at the heart of everything they do.

Premier Dominic Perrottet with wife Helen and two of their kids, Beatrice, and Harriet. Picture: David Swift

In their first interview together, the Perrottets have spoken about the gap between perception and reality of having six children with another on the way.

“It’s definitely a mix of who does what, there are no clear cut roles,” Mrs Perrottet said.

“Dom does lunches and washing and cooking and sorting the kids out and usually if he’s around he will take the kids to get shoes from Kmart or doing the sport run or whatever,” she said.

“We share the load. I do a fair bit of work on the weekends and Dom takes the kids.

“Our home life is still pretty normal and that’s important to us,” she said.

Mr Perrottet being sworn in as Premier by New South Wales Governor Margaret Beazley several weeks ago. Picture: Getty Images

PREMIER FOR FAMILIES

When Mr Perrottet took on the top job in the first week of October, he introduced himself as a man who wanted to be a “Premier for families”.

Pressed yesterday on what that meant, he said: “It’s about being a modern government that brings a real understanding of family pressures.

“Cost of living is incredibly important and a priority, but that’s too simplistic,” he said.

“The pressures of family life are much deeper than that. It’s about making life easier when it comes to childcare, schooling, before- and after-school care. It’s about making life easier for families in all the ways possible.”

NSW’s popular “active kids” and “creative kids” vouchers were the brain child of Mr Perrottet. Treasury opposed them but the Premier forged ahead. “I was confident in my perspective on these which was gained from personal experience,” he said.

Mr Perrottet says his experience as a dad has helped him in his job. Picture: David Swift

It can also be revealed that Mr Perrottet is targeting family-related reform as two of his first big non-Covid policy positions in the top job.

Mr Perrottet, through his time as Finance Minister and then as Treasurer, kept copious notes in paper notebooks about things he believed government should be doing. His role as a dad first and foremost always informed his view on these things.

Now as Premier, he is returning to those notes and tasking the ideas to departments to beef-up.

While Mr Perrottet was coy on the detail of reform he was targeting, it can be revealed one relates to childcare and early education reform and the second will be a housing affordability package.

He has already tasked Treasurer Matt Kean and Planning Minister Rob Stokes with finalising a housing plan to address “the biggest challenge young families face”.

Helen Perrottet, the wife of NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, says there is no army of nannies in her house. Picture: David Swift

DO WHAT I ASK

At The Daily Telegraph Bush Summit on Friday, Mr Perrottet directly addressed comments made by ex-premier Gladys Berejiklian about him in secret phone taps.

Ms Berejiklian had scoffed to her lover that “ (Dom) just does what I ask him to do”.

Mr Perrottet said that in fact the task in question – putting the Wagga hospital in the budget – had already been completed without Ms Berejiklian ordering him.

But as the phone taps aired, Mrs Perrottet texted her husband to joke: “Why do you always do what Gladys asks and not what I ask!”

The light hearted banter is an insight into their relationship. “I’m not defined by my job,” Mr Perrottet said in this interview.

“I’m Dad to my kids and that’s it. I still come home and get yelled at and bagged out by the kids. And I love that.”

Mrs Perrottet said family was at the heart of their lives.

“Both Dom and I are focused on what’s important to us and raising our children is at the centre of what we do, it is the most rewarding and joyful part of both of our lives,” she said.

Dominic Perrottet with former Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

LIFE AT HOME

Mr Perrottet said he had been surprised by stereotypical views that big families corresponded to an archaic way of doing things at home. These have been repeatedly levelled at the family since stepping into the public eye.

“I think it gets lost that Helen has a successful career both as a lawyer and within the army,” Mr Perrottet said.

“Helen works hard and we both share responsibilities.”

On weekends, after morning press conferences, Mr Perrottet takes charge of the children while Mrs Perrottet works.

They have the assistance of one babysitter who works part time for the family, with Mrs Perrottet quick to shoot down suggestions they have an army of nannies.

Mrs Perrottet was one of eight children, while Mr Perrottet was one of 12, with a big family always on the agenda for the couple.

“For the kids, Dom is still doing the usual (since becoming Premier),” Mrs Perrottet said.

Dominic Perrottet says after he does press conferences at the weekend he goes back to dad duties. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

“He’s making lunches, taking them to the shops, reading stories, and on his nights off he is usually making their dinner and doing Lego or watching movies with them.”

If he rushes out the door in the morning, at the absolute least he lines up six apples in a row for lunch boxes.

“The hardest part is juggling the orders because everyone has different tastes and things they will and won’t eat. They all hate something so you can’t mix it up,” Mr Perrottet said.

Not too different from running the state, then.

The Premier says he makes more trips to the supermarket than most MPs. Picture: David Swift

THE JUGGLE

Asked what life looks like with six children in tow, Mr Perrottet said: “I probably make more trips to the supermarket than any other member of Parliament.

“Sleep often takes second place to necessity when it comes to getting things done. Ultimately you just have to dig in and do what it takes to make lunches, to get them fed and into bed,” he said.

Mrs Perrottet said having a larger family is “not as hard as it sounds”.

“Things become easier when they all work together. The older ones really chip in to look after the younger ones,” she said.

She said the children were “desperate for another sibling”, adding an extra child will “add so much to our family and won’t be as hard as people think”.

Eldest daughters Charlotte and Amelia, who are 12 and 10, change nappies, can clean up and make coffees or breakfast for Mum and Dad in the morning. “Part of growing up in this environment is that they learn to be incredibly independent,” Mrs Perrottet said.