Government divided as Treasurer Matt Kean emerges as frontrunner in leadership stoush

It’s set to be an explosive week in NSW politics as Matt Kean and David Elliott fight it out for leadership while Premier Dominic Perrottet fights fires on multiple fronts.

Treasurer Matt Kean is firming as the frontrunner to take over as deputy leader of the state Liberals, with the party’s right wing faction set to back him for the role.

It comes as multiple senior ministers claimed Transport Minister David Elliott said he wanted to be Governor when he quit politics.

Tensions were boiling over inside the government yesterday over who will replace Stuart Ayres as deputy, with senior ministers accusing Mr Elliott of destabilising Premier Dominic Perrottet.

Mr Kean is expected to tell allies he will run for deputy at a meeting of left-faction Liberal MPs today.

Mr Elliott is the only person to publicly say they will contest the position, but colleagues have become increasingly frustrated at his actions.

One senior source said the party’s right faction will be backing Mr Kean for deputy “in the interests of stability”.

Matt Kean with NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet. Picture: Richard Dobson

“This is about stopping the treachery of those within the party that are undermining our chances of re-election,” the source said, in comments directed at Mr Elliott and Infrastructure Minister Rob Stokes. Multiple Liberals have privately accused Mr Stokes of secretly mounting a push against Mr Perrottet as leader.

Government sources disputed reports yesterday that Mr Perrottet had offered Mr Elliott a parliamentary trade role, alleging Mr Elliott was instead canvassing jobs for after politics. A minister said the conversations occurred earlier this year, when Mr Elliott was considering running for federal parliament.

“At a time when he was facing a very difficult period in his political career he was canvassing all kinds of opportunities including a federal seat and being appointed governor,” a minister said.

Transport Minister David Elliott says he won’t be seeking a public sector parachute.

Mr Elliott disputed that he wanted to be Governor.

“Blokes like me are more suited to be governor of Long Bay Jail,” he said.

“Unlike a lot of politicians who have been staffers and politicians their whole lives, I have 20 years of experience in the military and the private sector. I won’t be seeking a public sector parachute.”

Planning Minister Anthony Roberts said he was asked to run as deputy but declined. “I laughed,” he said.

“No one really cares who the deputy is, it’s like a participation ribbon.”