Reason behind John Barilaro’s resignation to be revealed ‘in weeks’
The exact reason behind John Barilaro’s shock exit from politics will become clearer “in the weeks ahead,” the departing Deputy Premier says.
NSW
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Departing Deputy Premier John Barilaro says the exact reason behind his shock exit from politics will be revealed "in the weeks ahead.”
Mr Barilaro has made no secret of the demons he wrestles so the timing of his resignation on Monday should not have come as too much of a surprise.
“I have been thinking about this for a long time – many of you have been reporting my exit for a while,” he said.
Publicly at his hastily-convened press conference, Mr Barilaro joked: “I turn 50 in November, maybe it’s a bit of a midlife crisis, but I’m definitely thinking about what’s next. I’m going to take some time out.”
And later sitting in his wood-panelled office in Macquarie St after the announcement, a clearly emotional Mr Barilaro offered up: “I think in the weeks ahead and the months ahead, as I deal with all this shit, people will realise exactly why I’ve exited and I’ve got to go out on my terms”.
The Macquarie St rumour mill was in overdrive over Mr Barilaro’s possible resignation.
One of the problems Mr Barilaro pointed to is his ongoing defamation case against YouTube personality Jordan Shanks-Markovina, known as Friendly Jordies, who he claims falsely labelled him as a conman who engaged in various forms of corruption.
“That defamation case has really pushed me over the edge,” he said.
“Every time you sit down with your SC or your lawyers, you’re having to read every remark, every comment, and that’s been hard to do,” Mr Barilaro said.
“People hate your politics, hate your position, hate your party, hate you, hate what you’ve said. For me it’s part and parcel of the business … but I don’t want to do it anymore.”
“We get stuck in the political bubble, we all talk. It’s an echo chamber. That’s why I made myself available to the bush,” Mr Barilaro said. “That’s why I love my job, my job has allowed me to meet real people and they have kept me grounded.”
In his speech on Monday, Mr Barilaro thanked his family but did not mention his wife Deanna, mother of their three daughters, by name.
Deanna made headlines last month when she contradicted her husband’s policy on mandatory vaccinations by backing Liberal MP Tanya Davies on Facebook.
Last year he revealed he was struggling with his mental health and seeing a psychiatrist to help him deal with “demons of the past”, depression and the loss of his “hero”, father Domenico.
That personal battle has come on top of a job that has seen him at the forefront of dealing with devastating regional issues including a bone-dry drought, savage bushfires, a mouse plague and the Covid pandemic.
Mr Barilaro would not comment on whether he was on the ICAC witness list. His departure comes hot on the heels of Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s resignation over the announcement of an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) investigation on Friday.
It triggers a by-election in his seat of Monaro, the third that will be fought after Transport Minister Andrew Constance quit to run for a federal seat on Sunday.
“Seeing Andrew Constance yesterday announce that he will exit state politics was in one way a moment that made me think about, ‘when was the right time’,” Mr Barilaro said.
He said the Premier’s resignation tipped his hand to announce his resignation earlier than he had planned. November 15 would have marked the fifth anniversary of his time as Deputy Premier.
Last year he revealed he was struggling with his mental health and seeing a psychiatrist to help him deal with “demons of the past”, depression and the loss of his “hero”, father Domenico.
That personal battle has come on top of a job that has seen him at the forefront of dealing with devastating regional issues including a bone-dry drought, savage bushfires, a mouse plague and the Covid pandemic.
“That defamation case has really pushed me over the edge,” he said.
“People hate your politics, hate your position, hate your party, hate you, hate what you’ve said. For me it’s part and parcel of the business … but I don’t want to do it anymore.”
“We get stuck in the political bubble, we all talk. It’s an echo chamber. That’s why I made myself available to the bush,” Mr Barilaro said. “That’s why I love my job, my job has allowed me to meet real people and they have kept me grounded.”
In his speech he said: “Nothing is closer to my heart than the big hug and smile I received from Rosie Schenker when I delivered a renal unit at Cooma Hospital, so she no longer had to make long trips to Canberra.”
It is his contribution to the bush – including battling the controversial koala bill last year – that he wants to mark his time in office. “I think my legacy will be one that I was there when the bush needed us most through the worst days,” he said.
He is looking forward to seeing more of his two eldest daughters Domenica and Alessia and coaching his six-year-old daughter Sofia’s soccer team. He wants to return to “a normal life” and catch up with old friends. “I can’t wait to go and have a beer with a lot of them,” he said.
POWER PLAY TEARS RIFT IN NATS
The Nationals will head to a contested leadership ballot on Wednesday morning after senior minister Melinda Pavey announced she would nominate for the position vacated by John Barilaro’s resignation.
While no other candidates had formally announced their intention to run, deputy leader Paul Toole was set to declare his interest in the top job on Tuesday.
The fight to fill the role of deputy leader is also on with Education Minister Sarah Mitchell and Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor expected to go head-to-head.
The leadership rumble comes after Deputy Premier John Barilaro announced he was retiring from politics after more than a decade.
Nationals sources said Mr Toole had strong support, but wanted to wait before announcing his intentions so as not steal the spotlight from Mr Barilaro.
Multiple MPs expressed their frustration that Ms Pavey publicly announced she would run for leader within minutes of Mr Barilaro’s resignation.
“Look, someone’s always going to find fault,” Ms Pavey told The Daily Telegraph.
“I think it was important I was upfront with the party room and people of NSW – we need to make decisions quickly and honestly; this isn’t something for the boys in the backroom to decide.”
Backers of Ms Pavey said she had strong support; party insiders believed the numbers would be “tight”.
One Nationals source said they did not believe Ms Pavey had the popularity to win over Mr Toole and her eagerness may have cost her the best chance at winning.
Question marks remain over ambitious Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall who is yet to rule himself out of the race, although it’s understood his age – he is 37 – may mean he is in no rush to put himself forward for the promotion.
The Nationals are also expecting a close battle between upper house MPs Ms Taylor and Ms Mitchell for the role of deputy leader, but multiple sources said they believe Ms Taylor had the numbers to win.
Nationals MP Wes Fang said Ms Taylor was perfect for the job because “she is feared by much of the Liberal Party. As they were of John”.
Ms Mitchell on the other hand is also said to be in with a good chance with one source saying she had the support of a “good half” of the party.
With three out of four of the top candidates being women, the Nationals leadership spill has been a sharp contrast to the Liberals’ all-male line-up.
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