Former NSW cabinet minister Don Harwin to resign from parliament

Former NSW cabinet minister Don Harwin will announce his imminent resignation from parliament, marking the second resignation of a government MP this week.

Don Harwin. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Former NSW cabinet minister Don Harwin has confirmed that he will announce his imminent retirement from parliament in the coming days, marking the second resignation of a government MP this week.

Mr Harwin, a member of the Legislative Council, will notify the NSW Governor of his intention to quit politics on Tuesday after delivering a farewell speech to parliament.

Premier Dominic Perrottet. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“It’s the right for me to be going,” Mr Harwin told The Australian.

“I want the party to have someone who’s there to make a contribution to parliamentary and public life. I’m looking forward to taking some time off and pursuing other opportunities into the future.”

His resignation comes just days after that of his upper house Liberal colleague Catherine Cusack, who announced her resignation on Wednesday citing the Morrison government’s “unethical approach” and perceived favouritism to flood-relief spending. Ms Cusack has not indicated precisely when her exit will take place.

Both Legislative Council positions will be filled simultaneously, an official briefed on the matter told The Australian.

The former arts minister has been a member of parliament since 1999, with his current term in the Legislative Council due to expire in March 2023.

Mr Harwin was a confidante and long-standing ally of former premier Gladys Berejiklian and did not seek a reappointment in cabinet following her resignation in October.

Ms Berejiklian briefly stood down Mr Harwin as a cabinet minister in 2020 over an allegation that he had breached a Covid-19 public health order by travelling outside of Sydney while lock down orders were enforced. The allegation was later withdrawn by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and his position was reinstated.

Upon learning in December that Mr Harwin would not serve in his cabinet, Mr Perrottet said the former arts minister had served across a “diverse range of portfolios” and had helped “enrich the cultural offerings of the state”.