Jodi McKay defeats Chris Minns to be named NSW ALP leader

After a rudderless three months, the NSW Labor Party has a leader: Jodi McKay has defeated Chris Minns with 60.5 per cent of the vote of 50 MPs and almost 11,000 rank-and-file members.

Former TV presenter Jodi McKay has been elected Labor leader, with the Strathfield MP ­defeating rival Chris Minns.

With almost 11,000 rank-and-file votes counted, Ms McKay had claimed 63 per cent to 37 for Mr Minns.

Ms McKay also resoundingly won a Caucus ballot 21 to 29, attracting cross-factional support.

The combined results gave Ms McKay 60.5 per cent of the overall vote and Mr Minns 39.5 per cent.

Leadership contender Jodi McKay and supporters arriving at Caucus today. Picture: AAP

Chris Minns is arrives for yesterday’s Caucus vote. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

The victory means that for the first time state parliament will have two female leaders pitted against each other, with Ms McKay to face off against Premier ­Gladys Berejiklian in the last week of July.

In a statement last night, Ms McKay congratulated Mr Minns while vowing to begin the work of rebuilding “faith and trust” with voters.

The ballot not only marked a “significant day in Labor’s journey back to government”, but had “energised” the movement, she said.

“I stand before you as the first leader of the NSW Labor Party elected with the involvement of our Party membership,” she said.

“We have a fabulous team of MPs and, no matter how each of us voted, we find common purpose in our values and our fight to win government.

Strathfield MP Jodi McKay yesterday, just after the MPs’ ballot at state parliament. Picture: Dylan Robinson

“We are a better party because we have been willing to open up our decision making.

“If I can leave one message to the people of NSW tonight — it is that you matter.

“ Tomorrow Labor, under my leadership, starts its journey in rebuilding faith and trust with you.”

The day-long ballot came three months after Labor failed to topple the Berejiklian ­government, prompting the resignation of then-leader Michael Daley.

The Right’s Ms McKay, who lost her seat of Newcastle in 2011 before winning the seat of Strathfield in 2015, had focused her campaign on education, voting reform while declaring rural NSW, western Sydney and multicultural communities a priority.

Her first priority will be to reignite a divided party, with yesterday’s ballot ending in a clash between Bankstown MP Tania Mihailuk and Upper House MP MLC Mark Buttigieg as the pair left the Parliament House Caucus room where they had been voting.

Mark Buttigieg.

Tania Mihailuk. Picture: Joel Carrett

Footage of the clash ­revealed Ms Mihailuk, who was supporting Mr Minns, telling Mr Buttigieg: “Don’t stand over a woman” and: “I watched you do it”.

Mr Buttigieg, who backed Ms McKay, was overheard responding: “Don’t try that shit on with me, Tania”.

The exchange was in relation to Mr Buttigieg seeing how Shellharbour MP Anna Watson had voted.

Mr Buttigieg denied the claims, declaring that he was showing Ms Watson his vote.

“There are any number of witnesses in the room who will verify that I was not standing over Anna, I was simply showing her my vote and that was it,” he said

“I was later on the phone to Anna to see if she was okay because she looked visibly upset.”

Both Ms McKay and Mr Minns covered thousands of kilometres across the state as they sought to woo rank and file votes.

The party will begin an immediate review of the voting process, with party elders to determine if it should be streamlined.

The two MPs fought weeks-long battle for the leadership.

Supporters of the process argue it allows for any “dirt” on any of the candidates to be flushed out before they are chosen as leader, instead of being used by their opposition at a later date.

Those against point to the length of time it has taken and also the cost, estimated to be around $120,000.

The defeated challenger Mr Minns congratulated Ms McKay on the result.

“She deserves this win and I wish her nothing but the best in her new role as NSW Parliamentary Leader of the Australian Labor Party,” he said.

“I’ve seen her up close over the past month, and her debating skills, mastery of policy and experience are what NSW Labor needs to win.

“My job now is to work with her to see a Labor government in NSW in 2023 and be a loyal member of her united team.

“Her result tonight has been emphatic, and should be regarded as such.

“I’m glad I had the opportunity to take part in this historic process. Now it’s time to unite and get on with the job of defeating the Berejiklian government.”