Gladys Berejiklian unanimously elected NSW’s first woman Liberal Premier
GLADYS Berejiklian, pictured with NSW Governor David Hurley and her new deputy Dominic Perrottet, was sworn in as Premier - and pledged to make home ownership within the reach of all.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- EXCLUSIVE: How Gladys came to be frontrunner for the top spot
- Gladys daughter of Armenian migrants with strong values
GLADYS Berejiklian has officially been sworn in as the 45th Premier of NSW.
She has also become the first female Liberal state Premier when she was sworn in at Government House this afternoon.
Ms Berejiklian was unanimously elected leader at this morning’s Liberal party room with Finance Minister Dominic Perrottet elected deputy, also unanimously.
The pair had entered the party room at Parliament House accompanied by outgoing Premier Mike Baird.
Ms Berejiklian will make housing affordability a key issue as premier, suggesting she has not completely ruled out tinkering with stamp duty.
The 46-year-old daughter of Armenian migrants started her first press conference as NSW Liberals leader by thanking Mr Baird for the contribution he had made and her parliamentary colleagues for the trust they had placed in her.
“He has made a big difference to the lives of the people of this state,” she said.
But she said it was time to make sure everyone got their slice of the pie.
“What we need to make sure is that every community across NSW gets its fair share,” she said.
The newly elected Liberals leader said her government would be led by the values most important to her, which included respect and hard work.
She outlined the policy areas most important to her going forward, which included local infrastructure.
“I know what difference it makes to a community if a dirt road becomes a bitumen road,” she said.
Ms Berejiklian, who lives in the quiet suburb of North Willoughby, also pointed to housing affordability as a major issue.
“I want to make sure every hardworking person in this state can own their own home,” she said.
She said there was more to be done in the space and emphasised the importance of creating supply.
When asked about her view on replacing stamp duty with a land tax, she said she had previously indicated it was not her preference but indicated she was open to it by saying she was “someone who will listen and someone who has an open mind”.
She also spoke of her family’s humble beginnings, including her father’s time as a boilermaker and welder and her mother’s work as a nurse.
“Personally, I do know what it’s like to battle, to struggle,” she said.
Mr Baird left the party room and thanked NSW for his time as premier. “Words can’t describe my gratitude,” he said.
Earlier, a smiling Jillian Skinner - who is fighting to keep her job as health minister - entered the room, as did former police minister Mike Gallacher.
Mr Gallacher made his return to the party room after a significant amount of time being out in the cold.
He shook hands and grinned with colleagues in view of the media prior to the meeting.
In a subsequent radio interview, Ms Berejiklian said she planned to put her own mark on the leadership.
Gladys Berejiklian: The political power player who’s not afraid of spiders
“I absolutely will be putting my stamp on this government and my leadership,” she told 2GB.
Ms Berejiklian said her government would “see through” its greyhound ban reversal.
She said the government had already performed well in terms of economics.
“How I would like to make my mark is to make sure that every corner of NSW gets its share,” she said.
The incoming premier said she planned to sit down with Nationals leader John Barilaro about his council amalgamations concerns.
“I’m not going to rule anything in or out today,” she said.
“But I do appreciate what sections of the community are saying in that regard.”
Ms Berejiklian said she wanted to take about a week to decide who would do what in her new Cabinet.
She also described herself as “someone who’ll listen”.
I am so proud of #GladysBerejiklian.
— Joe Hockey (@JoeHockey) January 23, 2017
No matter what your politics it's heartening that the Aussie dream can still come true!
Former Federal treasurer and current Ambassador to the US, Joe Hockey, took to Twitter to say he was “so proud” of his long-time friend Ms Berejiklian.
“No matter what your politics it’s heartening that the Aussie dream can still come true,” he wrote.
Ms Berejiklian was president of the Young Liberals in 1996 and was elected Member for Willoughby, on the lower north shore, in 2003.
She was appointed Transport Minister in March 2011 and has served as Deputy Leader of the NSW Liberal Party since April 2014.
When Baird was elected, she was appointed Treasurer and Industrial Relations Minister.
NSW looks to force private health insurers to pay a higher levy
The Minns Government and private health insurers have escalated their fight over hospital funding into an all-out brawl, while the NSW Treasurer admits Mike Baird got it right 10 years go.
Sydney faces days of rain, power restored to thousands of homes
Sydney is bracing for more storms after severe weather brought lightning, large hailstones, and heavy rain, leaving thousands without power.