The 2023 campaign begins today: Minns’s plan to rally the troops as NSW Labor leader

Kogarah MP Chris Minns says the campaign for a NSW Labor government in 2023 has begun after he was unanimously elected the new leader of the party on Friday.

The 41-year-old was elected unopposed during a 30-minute caucus meeting in which rival Michael Daley pulled out of the leadership race.

Labor’s Chris Minns in his first press conference after being elected leader.Credit: Rhett Wyman

Mr Minns vowed to “rally the troops” of Labor and close the book on a bruising period of party disunity to focus on the people of NSW, as he finally claimed the top job on his third attempt.

“Now the hard work begins for the Labor Party to get up off the mat, take the fight up to the Berejiklian government... I know that task will be difficult,” he said.

Mr Minns said he firmly believed the next election would define the post-COVID economy and society and that his party would have a big role to play.

Cost of living, stagnant wages, regional jobs and tolls will be the first areas he plans to target as leader.

“We will have a [toll] package to take to the next election that deals with what is a serious issue for Western Sydney families,” he said, adding that the campaign and a future NSW “starts today”.

Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese on Friday congratulated Mr Minns, saying he would not just be “a good Labor leader in opposition, but a great premier of NSW.”

Mr Daley’s withdrawal spared Labor a potentially bruising battle between the pair that some MPs feared would further divide the party following last Friday’s resignation of Jodi McKay as leader.

Labor MP Michael Daley ahead of a caucus meeting where he did not challenge for the leadership.Credit: Louise Kennerley

Mr Minns said he was humbled to have been elected by his parliamentary colleagues but conceded deep divides within caucus would not disappear with his election.

“I’m not saying it’s magically fixed, I’m saying that there will be challenges ahead,” he said.

“My job now is to rally the troops, focus on the people in NSW and as I’ve said repeatedly, have a positive and optimistic plan about what’s possible”.

Mr Minns will now take the weekend to select his opposition frontbench, but he would not commit to announcing it by the time Parliament resumed on Tuesday.

Chris Minns will be the new leader of the NSW Labor Party.Credit: Louise Kennerley

Mr Daley earlier said he decided to pull out because it was “completely clear” that Mr Minns had the majority caucus support. He told Mr Minns of his decision earlier on Friday.

Mr Daley maintained that no one in the party or its head office had ever asked him to stand down.

“It was wholeheartedly in the best interest of the party that I’m not pushing this to a ballot, notwithstanding the fact that I do believe that, as a matter of principle, the members should have a say,” he said.

“I did, contrary to some reports, have sufficient numbers of supporters to force it to a ballot”.

If Mr Daley had proceeded to nominate and gathered the requisite 15 signatures, the party would have been forced to hold a costly and protracted ballot of branch members.

“This is a decision I have made talking to my supporters today, with one consideration in mind and one consideration only: what’s the best thing for the Labor Party”.

Mr Daley agreed to accept any offer to serve on Mr Minns’ frontbench, adding that he would help the party become a “war machine again”.

“Chris has given me indications that he’ll do that too and I accept him without qualification or doubt,” he said.

Mr Minns later said the Maroubra MP would have a huge role under his leadership.

Ms McKay did not attend caucus on Friday, however she later tweeted her support for Mr Minns as the new leader. Mr Minns has already indicated his predecessor would have a place on his frontbench.

Mr Minns, who entered NSW Parliament in 2015, had most recently been Labor’s transport spokesman. He had twice previously contested for leadership of the party.

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