Gladys Berejiklian: Treasurer firms as first woman Liberal Premier of NSW

UPDATE: RADIO shock jock Alan Jones has slammed Gladys Berejiklian, saying she would be a bad choice for Premier. But Berejiklian could become the next NSW leader with Andrew Constance and Rob Stokes confirming they are not in the running.

• Women in Mike’s life said: ‘It’s time’
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GLADYS Berejiklian will become the next premier of NSW on Monday, with Transport Minister Andrew Constance ruling out running against her.

Planning Minister Rob Stokes has also confirmed he’s not running for the leadership.

In a statement, Mr Constance praised Ms Berejiklian and said the state should be “glad to have her at the helm”.

“I’ve spoken to close friend and colleague Gladys Berejiklian who has announced she intends to stand for the position of NSW Liberal Leader,” he said.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance said Berejiklian will make a great premier. Picture: John Appleyard

Planning Minister Rob Stokes will not be running for the leadership. Picture: Adam Yip

“Gladys will make an excellent Premier and she has my full support. NSW should be glad to have her at the helm.

“Having spoken to my family and colleagues it is my intention to continue to serve NSW in whatever way is possible. We have one of the biggest transport and infrastructure renewal programs ever seen in Australia and I’d be honoured to see that through.”

Gladys Berejiklian speaks to the media this morning. Picture: Dylan Robinson

This comes after radio shock jock Alan Jones slammed Gladys Berejiklian, saying she would be a bad choice for the next NSW Premier and is not across key parliamentary issues “in a million light-years”.

Jones, who is overseas recovering from a back operation, called into his own 2GB breakfast show to talk with Steve Price about Mike Baird’s premiership and to discuss potential candidates for the new leader.

“Gladys Berejiklian was quick out of the blocks to say ‘well I’m going to be a starter ... Yes of course she’d already organised the numbers before Baird had made the announcement,” Mr Jones said.

Alan Jones does not think Gladys Berejiklian is the best choice as Premier. Picture: Jonathan Ng

While talking about key parliamentary issues affecting NSW families in regards to coal seam gas, lockout laws and greyhounds, Mr Jones said: “Gladys Berejiklian is a nice person. She is not across these issues in a million light-years.”

Steve Price then asked “Is she capable of getting across it?” to which Jones replied, “No”.

Mr Price further asked “So is she a bad choice?”, and Jones responded: “She would be in my opinion, yes.”

Berejiklian confirmed this morning she has asked Dominic Perrottet to be her deputy as she continues to reach out to her colleagues today in her bid to become premier of NSW.

Ms Berejiklian this morning said there would be “no hard feelings” if anyone decided to run against her, but Mr Constance’s statement paves the way for her to be anointed premier in the wake of Mike Baird’s resignation.

“I was deeply saddened to hear my good mate Mike Baird would no longer be leading the NSW Liberal Party,” Mr Constance said.

“I was extremely privileged to have worked with Mike and the incredible legacy he leaves behind will be remembered by this great State for generations.

“Mike is a man of action — the likes of which we were lucky to have as leader.”

Gladys Berejiklian has confirmed she has asked Dominic Perrottet to be her deputy.

The Treasurer described Mr Perrottet, the current Finance Minister, as an “outstanding minister” and “someone who has a very bright future and ... applies himself diligently to any job that he’s given”.

When asked whether she had spoken with powerbroker Michael Photios, she said “hand on heart”, she had only spoken with her parliamentary colleagues.

“I’m very, very heartened by the support I’ve received to date from colleagues in the party room and, of course, we have a way to go — nothing is assumed,” she said.

“I am not assuming anything ahead of Monday morning’s meeting.”

Ms Berejiklian, who is considered the frontrunner to replace outgoing Premier Mike Baird who yesterday announced his retirement from politics, refused to speculate on what policy positions she would settle on as premier.

“I’m not in a position to articulate anything about that because I’m not going to make any assumptions ahead of Monday morning,” she said.