Matt Kean denies feud with David Elliott despite NSW Premier’s threat

Treasurer Matt Kean has laughed off talk of an ongoing feud with fellow MP David Elliott after Premier Dominic Perrottet demanded the pair quit bickering or they could face the sack.

Treasurer Matt Kean has laughed off infighting with Transport Minister David Elliott as a “robust discussion” between friends.

“David Elliott and I are good friends, we’ve been friends for over a decade, and we will continue to be friends going forward,” Mr Kean told Channel Seven on Tuesday morning.

Mr Kean did not deny that he had been hauled into line by Premier Dominic Perrottet, as revealed by The Daily Telegraph on Monday.

“We have robust discussions from time to time but what is important is getting on with the job,” he said of his relationship with Mr Elliott.

It comes after Premier Dominic Perrottet has hauled the two senior ministers into line after another damaging internal feud which he has labelled a “distraction” to his government.

Minister for Transport David Elliott. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Treasurer and Minister for Energy Matt Kean denied the claims. Picture: Gaye Gerard

After the latest eruption of internal Liberal tensions, Mr Perrottet demanded that his ministers focus on their jobs – or face the sack.

“Ministers need to focus on their jobs, or they’ll find themselves out of a job,” Mr Perrottet told this newspaper.

Transport Minister David Elliott last night vowed that he would not “defy the Premier’s instructions”.

It came after Mr Elliott accused Treasurer Matt Kean of “treachery” over claims, which Mr Kean denies, that he undermined the Morrison government.

The Daily Telegraph spoke to multiple ministers who expressed white hot anger with Mr Kean, after it was revealed he had urged a journalist to continue pursuing a state MP with questions about controversial Warringah candidate Katherine Deves.

While the other ministers shared Mr Elliott’s anger, they declined to publicly criticise Mr Kean.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet will haul two of his senior ministers into line. Picture: Nikki Short

“Either Dom does something about (Mr Kean) or he will be forever known as a puppet premier,” one said.

However, frustration was also levelled at Mr Elliott for threatening that Mr Kean’s “treachery” would be “repaid in kind”.

“It’s almost (Mr Elliott) saying: ‘please sack me,’” one Minister said of the Transport Minister’s intervention.

The Premier spoke to both Mr Kean and Mr Elliott on Monday telling them to not cause “distractions”.

“My expectation is ministers are focused every single day on the great people of NSW,” he told reporters.

“This is a distraction from what is our focus.”

Labor leader Chris Minns accused Mr Kean of being more interested in internal politics than the people of the state.

NSW Labor Party Leader Chris Minns. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“There’s a cost of living crisis in NSW compounded by an energy emergency and the Minister for both is more interested in internal Liberal Party politics,” he said.

“It’s time to stop focusing on themselves and start worry about the people of NSW because they need help.”

Mr Kean on Sunday described a message he sent to a 10 News journalist regarding Ms Deves as “lighthearted banter”.

“We exchanged some light hearted banter, I didn’t ask the reporter to ask anything of anyone,” he said.

Mr Kean declined to comment on his meeting with Mr Perrottet.