‘Doesn’t know’: Andrew Constance's confession about Gladys Berejiklian

The NSW transport minister has made a confession about Gladys Berejiklian after her shock resignation.

The NSW transport minister says Gladys Berejiklian “doesn’t know” what the allegations against her are after the state’s corruption watchdog revealed she was under investigation.

The outgoing premier on Friday announced her shock resignation after the Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation came to light.

Two days later and the state’s Transport Minister Andrew Constance revealed he too would be stepping away from state politics to vie for a federal seat.

Then, the Deputy Premier John Barilaro announced he would resign from his position as NSW Nationals Leader and leave parliament on Monday morning.

Speaking to Sunrise on Monday Mr Constance said he was “heartbroken” to see Ms Berejiklian stand down.

“The worst thing about it at this stage is that Gladys does not know what the allegation (against her) is,” he said.

“It is almost as if you are guilty before innocent in that regard … but the ICAC will work through that process and I can’t comment on those.”

He said the people of NSW were in “shock” and the state was “reeling” after Ms Berejiklian made her surprising resignation.

Andrew Constance was “heartbroken” to see Gladys Berejiklian stand down. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

“We have lost an incredible Premier, one of the best we have ever seen in NSW,” Mr Constance said.

On Sunday Mr Constance announced he would quit state politics to instead run for a south coast federal seat currently held by Labor.

The outgoing transport minister confirmed he would resign from NSW cabinet in the coming days, and as the member for the state seat of Bega by the end of the year.

He will be contesting the federal seat of Gilmore at the next election.

Gilmore, which is in NSW’s Shoalhaven and Illawarra regions and includes communities like Batemans Bay, Kiama and Ulladulla, is represented by Labor MP Fiona Phillips.

In his statement on Sunday, Mr Constance did not say why he wanted to vie for a federal seat instead of continuing to serve in state parliament.

Flowers and signage are left outside Gladys Berejiklian’s office. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

“By retiring from state cabinet and NSW parliament, I will provide an incoming leader the opportunity to fill this position,” Mr Constance said on Sunday.

Mr Constance and his Liberal colleagues are in the process of choosing a state leader ahead of a party room meeting on Tuesday.

Ms Berejiklian said she would leave parliament at the earliest opportunity after anti-corruption watchdog ICAC announced a probe into whether she breached public trust with respect to grants awarded to community organisations while she was in a secret relationship with ex-Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire.

Her most likely replacement is current NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet who on Sunday put his hand forward.

Sources confirmed to NCA NewsWire reports that a backroom deal had been made between Mr Perrottet and Liberal moderate powerbrokers.

The sources said Mr Perrottet, of the party’s right wing, had secured the backing of the moderates by promising the role of deputy to Mr Ayres and the job of Treasurer to Environment Minister Matt Kean.

– additional reporting by Anton Nilsson