Dominic Perrottet warns ministers to stop attacking colleagues or face the sack

State government ministers have been put on notice in a directive from Premier Dominic Perrottet as a way to stop party infighting.

NSW government ministers who publicly attack their colleagues will lose their job, after a stunning directive delivered by Premier Dominic Perrottet.

Mr Perrottet on Tuesday said he has made his expressed “very clear” expectations that Ministers are “focused on the people of our state,” after delivering a stern warning stern warning during Monday night’s cabinet meeting.

The ultimatum was made in a bid to stop damaging friendly fire between warring ministers.

He told ministers that if they publicly attack another colleague, they will be sacked on the spot, multiple Cabinet sources told The Daily Telegraph.

The extraordinary directive was seen by ministers as a directive aimed squarely at Transport Minister David Elliott over his continued attacks on Treasurer Matt Kean.

The Premier put his ministers on notice after Mr Elliott’s latest spray against his cabinet colleague, in which he was reported as blaming Mr Kean for ongoing train strikes.

Treasurer Matt Kean. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Transport Minister David Elliott. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Mr Elliott complained that he had the “rug pulled out” from under him due to Mr Kean’s actions.

“That’s what you get when you send a boy in to do a man’s job,” Nine Media reported Mr Elliott as saying. Mr Kean hit back, calling the comments “embarrassing”.

Premier Dominic Perrottet, pictured with his frontbench team at their swearing in last year, has told his ministers to stop attacking each other. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Mr Perrottet is now under internal pressure to make good on this threat of sacking any Minister who criticises colleagues.

“He has to (act) now. I’m glad it’s happened, we need strong leadership now. Enough is enough,” a government source said.

The Monday night ultimatum is not the first time Mr Perrottet has been forced to tell Mr Elliott and Mr Kean to stop causing “distractions”.

Mr Elliott was not in the cabinet meeting, with his absence understood to be due to illness. However The Telegraph was told that the ultimatum was relayed to Mr Elliott separately.

Ministers on Tuesday saw the directive as a “line in the sand” to end Mr Elliott’s repeated attacks against his factional rival.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Mr Elliott has previously accused Mr Kean of “treachery” during the federal election campaign, vowing that the Moderate faction leader’s actions would be “repaid in kind”.

Last week Mr Elliott squarely blamed the Treasurer for a stalemate which has prevented taxi drivers getting extra compensation.

Mr Perrottet said he had made his expectations “very clear”.

“I’ve certainly made my views very clear,” he said.

One source described Mr Elliott’s ongoing “obsession” with Mr Kean as “weird”.

A government source said Mr Perrottet’s directive will mark a turning point for the government that has in recent weeks let internal politics overshadow policy. 

“This will go a long way in keeping the peace and ensuring ministers around the table are doing the right thing — that is to get this government re-elected,” they said.

“There are ministers who work seven days a week to get us elected. The premier is doing a fantastic job and we need to be focused on the election. 

“The election is eight months away. Everyone is under instruction to be focused on making this state a better state and not focus on the internal politics.”

Mr Elliott declined to comment.