Dominic Perrottet elected NSW Liberal leader and Premier

Dominic Perrottet has hit out at critics who question whether his religious views will impact the way he governs NSW.

NSW’s new premier has hit out at critics who fear his religious views will impact the way he governs the state.

Dominic Perrottet has been elevated from Treasurer to Premier after a landslide win in a vote among Liberal colleagues.

Sworn in at a Government House ceremony on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Perrottet is the state’s youngest ever Premier, at the age of 39.

He will also be seen as a far more conservative leader than his moderate predecessor Gladys Berejiklian.

Mr Perrottet, a conservative Catholic who opposes same-sex marriage and abortion reforms, said it would be “sad” if people thought he shouldn’t serve as premier because of his religion.

“My religious views and my Christian faith is something I am incredibly proud of, as many people across our state are,” he told reporters.

Dominic Perrottet said he was proud of his religious views. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

“Does that in any way take away my capacity to serve as premier? Well, I do not think so, and I think it is a sad thing that some people do.

“People right across our state, in the main, believe in freedom of religion and freedom of the opportunity to serve in public life regardless of what your ethnic background is what your religious values are.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Perrottet won the party room ballot 39 votes to five, comfortably defeating Planning Minister Rob Stokes.

Stuart Ayres became his deputy.

“It’s been an honour and an absolute privilege to be elected as the parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party,” Mr Perrottet told reporters.

“I really appreciate the trust that my colleagues are putting in me.”

Dominic Perrottet has been announced the new leader of the Liberal Party. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Mr Stokes also spoke to reporters after suffering a resounding loss.

“I always said that I would give people a choice – they have chosen emphatically,” he said.

“Democracy is the winner today. Dom Perrottet will be a magnificent premier and he has my undivided loyalty and support.

“I will use every ounce of strength in my body to make sure he is re-elected as premier of NSW when we go to the polls in 2023.”

Asked whether he would like to remain in the cabinet, Mr Stokes said it would be “entirely up to the premier”.

Moderate faction powerbroker Matt Kean was promoted to Treasurer after helping Mr Perrottet secure victory. He will also keep his portfolio of Environment Minister for the time being.

Rob Stokes suffered a resounding loss in the partyroom ballot. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Health Minister Brad Hazzard offered a philosophical take after emerging from the meeting.

Mr Hazzard said the atmosphere in the room was “good, but obviously sad” because MPs were mourning the loss of Ms Berejiklian as leader.

“We talked about Gladys, obviously, how sad we all are,” he told NCA NewsWire.

Brad Hazzard described the atmosphere in the meeting as sad. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Calling an official press conference soon after the meeting, Mr Perrottet praised his predecessor, Gladys Berejiklian.

“It is my hope that I will continue the strong leadership that Gladys has shown throughout this pandemic,” he said.

Mr Perrottet also heaped praise on his new deputy, along with his wife and children.

The new state leader said he would not only be an “infrastructure premier” but also a “family premier”.

Dominic Perrottet arrives at Government House to be sworn in as NSW Premier. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

His ascendancy to the top job came after his Ms Berejiklian resigned as a result of an anti-corruption investigation into her conduct in office.

Her announcement was followed by an intense weekend of backroom wrangling that saw Mr Perrottet amass enough support to feel he could win the vote by Sunday.

As treasurer, Mr Perrottet was the second-highest ranking Liberal in the NSW parliament. Ms Berejiklian held the same position before she was chosen as premier in 2017.

The 39-year-old Catholic and father-of-six is the leader of the party’s right faction and was previously the deputy leader of the NSW Liberal Party

The Epping MP lives in northwest Sydney with his wife Helen and children Charlotte, Amelia, Annabelle, William, Harriet and Beatrice.

His choice of having a big family of his own may have been inspired by his own upbringing – Mr Perrottet is the third eldest of a dozen brothers and sisters.

Whip Adam Crouch announces the new new leader. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Mr Perrottet studied law at Sydney University and worked as a lawyer before he was elected to the NSW parliament in 2011.

Mr Perrottet graduated from Redfield College, a Catholic school that has an Opus Dei priest as its chaplain, and has said his politics are partly influenced by his Christian faith.

“It’s certainly part of who I am (politically), it inspires me to try and make a difference,” he told a Catholic podcast last year.

In a statement on Friday, he said Ms Berejiklian’s departure was “an incredibly sad day for NSW”.

“The interests of the people of NSW must always come first, and the priority for the government is to ensure we continue to keep people safe, and that we reopen the economy and get people back to work, kids back to school, and life back to normal as fast as possible,” Mr Perrottet said.

Dominic Perrottet and Stuart Ayres arrive at Government House. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard.