Several more senior Liberal MPs are expected to resign in coming days
Liberal Party insiders fear the prospect of more upheaval with Brad Hazzard the latest high-profile minister touted to go after Gladys Berejiklian’s resignation.
NSW
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Chaos rules in the NSW government as MPs stare down a triple header by-election super Saturday following the shock resignation of John Barilaro as Deputy Premier and Monaro MP.
In just four days, three of the government’s top performers have toppled with strategists now fearing even Gladys Berejiklian’s seat of Willoughby could fall.
The by-elections will be a massive test of the new Premier Dominic Perrottet.
There are even fears of further by-elections, with one Liberal worried up to six MPs could quit the government early due to the change in leadership.
At least three looming by-elections could prove damaging to the government.
They could be held in a “super Saturday” of polling, potentially alongside the local government elections on December 4.
Liberal sources said losing even two seats would make winning votes on the floor of parliament more difficult, requiring more negotiation with the crossbench.
The Coalition is already in minority government, relying on the votes of key crossbenchers, including former Liberals John Sidoti and Gareth Ward.
It was feared that more MPs may follow Ms Berejiklian, Andrew Constance, and Mr Barilaro out the door.
The outgoing Deputy Premier told the Liberal Party’s new leader that he was leaving on Monday morning.
“I would have preferred him to stay on,” Mr Perrottet said.
Mr Barilaro said the toll of politics on his personal life was behind the decision to quit. The resignation was the third to rock the government, after Ms Berejiklian quit amid an ICAC investigation and Mr Constance left state politics to seek preselection for a federal seat.
One Liberal feared that “half a dozen” MPs could use the leadership change as an “excuse” for early retirement.
Multiple MPs were concerned that Mr Stokes may quit before the next election if he was unsuccessful in his bid to become leader.
But the Pittwater MP ruled out resigning before the general election in 2023.
“I’m a man of my word. I stood for a full term,” he said.
Other electorates where MPs were worried about potential by-elections included Holsworthy, held by Melanie Gibbons.
Liberals said Ms Gibbons’ name had been touted for the federal seat of Hughes. “That’s not on my radar, I do not want to cause a by-election,” Ms Gibbons said.
The view among Liberals is that Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock are also preparing to quit.
However, other MPs think it’s more likely the pair would wait out the term and leave at the next general election in 2023.
Labor leader Chris Minns criticised Mr Constance and Mr Barilaro for pulling the pin before the next election, accusing them of “putting personal ambition and the next career move first”.
“These are unnecessary by-elections that shouldn’t be taking place right now,” he said.
Mr Perrottet said he was not worried about an exodus of government MPs.
“If you’re not in the in the position where you believe that you can continue to serve at the highest levels, then your duty really is to stand aside and let somebody else take over,” he said.
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