How Gladys Berejiklian came to be frontrunner for the top spot
SHE is invited to Christmas drinks on yachts owned by pub barons and has “turned down the Turnbulls”.
NSW
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HER reputation is for niceness, efficiency and steel in equal measure, but Gladys Berejiklian’s adversaries are already queuing up to hint the premier-in-waiting is beholden to backroom players.
As Ms Berejiklian prepares to ask tomorrow’s Liberal party room meeting for endorsement as leader, a whispering campaign is highlighting her close relationship with Left powerbroker Michael Photios.
“She is his prized jewel,” one right-wing Liberal said. “He has finally obtained the premiership.”
Where Premier Mike Baird and his predecessor Barry O’Farrell enjoyed being free of the factions, some MPs fear a return to the John Brogden era when warring factions nearly tore the party apart.
Members of the once-dominant Right have released a list of ministerial demands in exchange for their support, with one senior figure warning: “If the Right are going to back her, the Right need to be rewarded”.
Some are concerned their new leader Ms Berejiklian now has a target on her back, given her own involvement as a factional player.
“She was Brogden’s lieutenant, doing all the numbers for him,” a long-serving Liberal MP said.
“Now that she is the leader of the Left in parliament, Matt Kean (MP for Hornsby) has been fulfilling this role for her, so he’s another one she will now have to reward.”
Labor were quick to point out favours Ms Berejiklian may be pressured to deliver given Mr Photios’s long list of clients as part of his Capital Hill Advisory business.
Three years ago, Ms Berejiklian was accused of handing out bus contracts to clients of Mr Photios’ other business, Premier State.
However, Mr Photios said he did not represent the companies, with the business engaged only to help the firms draw up their tenders.
There was also a party on the Cook Islands where Ms Berejiklian was pictured with another controversial lobbyist Joe Tannous.
Long-serving cabinet colleague Brad Hazzard said Ms Berejiklian was a “quintessentially nice person” with “an iron will”.
“I heard she doesn’t say much in cabinet,” offers another MP.
“Pedantic. Perfectionist to the extreme,” says another.
“Nobody knows anything about her,” said another Liberal source.
If there is a common theme, it is the Australian-Armenian former Commonwealth Bank executive has always wanted the top job.
One Liberal Party veteran claimed she cited ambitions of becoming prime minister as a Young Liberal.
“Even Baird was reluctant to run the last time around as it was understood it was Gladys’ (role to become the next premier)”, a Liberal source said.
“It is why he locked her in this time around.”
The friendship with Mr Photios was forged through the Eastwood branch of the Young Liberals, where both were presidents.
She was on the guest list of federal MP Craig Laundy’s Christmas drinks on the family yacht, which also allegedly included Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull, Mr Photios and MP John Sidoti.
She is regularly on the guest list of functions held by the Turnbulls, although was overheard telling a fellow ministerial colleague at Christmas that she had turned them down this year.
She is also close to Treasurer Scott Morrison.
As for her single status, her supporters say it will be of advantage, not having to take into consideration the needs of immediate family.
“(Ms Berejiklian) can be married to the job,” a supporter conceded.
However, she has her work cut out, not least of all mending relations with Planning Minister Rob Stokes and Transport Minister Andrew Constance amid allegations she colluded with Mr Baird in the timing of his departure.
Mr Baird’s public support of Ms Berejiklian as premier came despite a pledge “not to back a candidate” should he decide to retire, said the source.
The pledge was made weeks leading into Thursday’s Twitter resignation, with would-be leadership contender Mr Stokes taking off to London for a family holiday in the confidence nothing would happen in his absence.
It was only in the late afternoon that Mr Stokes learned of the vacancy, giving the Left several hours jump to secure Ms Berejiklian’s numbers.
Mr Stokes will miss the party room meeting, only returning to Australia at the end of the month.
Radio talk-show host Alan Jones has already taken aim, accusing Ms Berejiklian of lacking the ability to be premier while backing the notion she had the inside running.
Mr Baird said he would be “proud” to have Ms Berejiklian as premier.
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“The whole thing comes down to character — she is an outstanding person,” he said.
“She has a lot of inner strength, is compassionate, pragmatic and her attitude makes her perfect for the job,” Mr Baird said.
“She has spent her life fighting against stereotypes, and she’s proven her critics wrong. Should she get elected, I’d be very proud to have her as my premier.”
After waiting for the job for so long, Ms Berejiklian will rise to the challenge, her supporters say.
Unlike other female political leaders who are installed in desperation when parties are already in a death spiral, Ms Berejiklian walks into positive polls and a healthy economy.
“This is the role she has been waiting for, and I think she has a chance to make a major mark,” a source said.
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