Dominic Perrottet interview: No apologies from man of faith

Family and politics are the twin themes in Dominic Perrottet’s inevitable path to become the youngest premier of the state, at 39. Then there’s his Catholicism.

Dominic Perrottet with daughters Harriet and Beatrice in Sydney on Monday. Picture: Jane Dempster

From the age of 10, Dominic Perrottet was required to regularly present an article on the affairs of the nation to the family at dinner, which would then be debated among his parents and 12 brothers and sisters.

The precocious Perrottet quickly became adept at issues ranging from social and economic developments following the peaceful democratic revolution in Mongolia to more local issues in the Hills District in Sydney’s northwest.

“Such as how the Labor Party could possibly oppose the building of the M2,” he would later recall.

Family and politics are the twin themes in Perrottet’s seemingly inevitable path to become the youngest premier of the state, at 39.

There’s his faith too, a deeply held Catholicism, though it is not a flag he has waved to win votes.

As a child he attended the Catholic school Redfield College in Dural, where the school’s chaplain was an Opus Dei priest. Perrottet is not a member of the order, which is known for its conservatism and right-wing affiliations.

Dominic Perrottet with wife Helen and children Harriet, Annabelle, Charlotte, William and Amelia in 2018. Picture: Jenny Evans

A social and economic conservative, he has been unapologetic in opposing same-sex marriage and once told supporters of abortion rights that they were on the “wrong side of history”.

He voted against decriminalising abortion and is likely to vote against the voluntary assisted dying laws that will soon come before the NSW parliament.

But he says he will allow a conscience vote on any such issues.

“My view has always been in the Liberal Party that when we have certain moral debates in the parliament that they are dealt with, with respect and through a conscience vote, and that’s important,” he tells The Australian.

“It’s important that we have a diversity of views; that’s what makes our parliament great and allows our state to flourish. We should embrace diversity of views and values, not marginalise difference.”

But in recent days, the chorus about Perrottet’s Catholicism has grown louder and harsher.

The undercurrent is that Perrottet is such a conservative Catholic – witness his six children – that he should not lead the state; that his brand of Catholicism is, in the words of one media commentator, one of “righteousness and self-righteousness around central questions of identity, sexuality, gender politics, minority rights and an unwavering conviction that this is the one true faith”.

John Barilaro, Gladys Berejiklian and Dominic Perrottet in March 2018. Picture: AAP

Perrottet won’t discuss the anger friends say he feels about the commentary, willing only to offer that the rhetoric is “disappointing, in the tolerant state of NSW that I live in and love”.

“Faith is personal to me, as it is for millions of people across our state, and anybody should be able to put their hand up to serve in public life, and should not be disqualified, based on their faith or their heritage,” he says.

“I certainly believe in diversity. I believe in tolerance. I believe in values of respect for all people. And people should be judged on their actions, not based on an attribute that someone thinks shouldn’t have a place in public life.”

Righteous and self righteous is not how those who know Perrottet see him.

“I’ve always found Dom to be a very pragmatic sort of person,” says Families Minister Alister Henskins, who found himself on the other side of the chamber on the vote to decriminalise abortion.

Dominic Perrottet as Member for Castle Hill in 2011.

“It had zero impact on our relationship, which is consistent with the idea that there’s a pragmatism to the way in which he thinks and acts professionally.”

Perrottet began his working life as a solicitor at Henry Davis York in banking restructuring, but was already deeply involved in student politics, serving as president of the NSW Young Liberals.

Elected to parliament in 2011 at the age of 28, he spelled out his beliefs in his inaugural speech: “I agree with Churchill when he calls the socialist model the equal distribution of poverty, not wealth. I oppose plans for more social engineering, more welfare handouts and the continual obsession with our rights at the expense of our responsibilities.”

His unfiltered comments have given his Labor opponents plenty of material to work with.

In 2016, Perrottet posted on Facebook his views on the election of Donald Trump as US president: “If you stand for free speech, you are not a bigot. If you question man-made climate change, you are not a sceptic. If you support stronger borders, you are not a racist. If you want a plebiscite on same sex marriage, you are not a homophobe.”

More conservative than outgoing Premier Gladys Berejiklian and often frustrated by her readiness to rely on the advice of NSW Health in declaring lockdowns, he was nevertheless devastated by the way she was treated by the Independent Commission Against Corruption, according to friends.

“It really affected Dom — just the unfairness,” says Corrections Minister Anthony Roberts.

“He had genuine heartfelt sympathy, about the unfairness of someone’s relationships being aired publicly. It affected him much more than many of his colleagues.

“He’s not a complex man. It’s all about family.

“He’s very passionate about his work-life balance. So he has these date nights with his wife Helen.”

Perrottet, if he gets the top job, will be a different kind of leader: strongly pro-business; erring more on getting business working, less on listening to warnings from health officials.

As Treasurer he has steadily privatised the state’s public assets. That “asset recycling” will continue, as will his controversial plan to phase out property stamp duties in favour of a land tax for future buyers.

But he will be cautious about reform, anxious to avoid the kind of scandals that erupted over mismanagement in the state’s workers compensation scheme run by iCare on his watch.

The end of lockdown will come as a big personal relief to the large Perrottet household.

“It’s been bloody hard, like it has for so many families across the state,” he says.

“You’ve got home-schooling with kids running up the walls. Just not being able to see their friends has been incredibly hard, and I think that’s one of the things that’s been missing out in the pandemic debate has been the pressure on many young kids.

“It’s not just the kids who want to get back to school, it’s going to be great for the parents as well.”

First mission out of lockdown will be taking the kids “somewhere fun”.

Then a date night with Helen: “Usually Japanese.”