John Barilaro to resign as NSW Deputy Premier and exit parliament
The NSW deputy premier says an ongoing defamation case is one of the reasons for his resignation days after Gladys Berejiklian quit.
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said an ongoing defamation case and “vile, racist” attacks were factors in his shock resignation from state politics.
The Nationals leader’s announcement came just three days after Gladys Berejiklian announced she would quit as Premier and also exit politics, after the Independent Commission Against Corruption revealed it would commence public hearings into her conduct.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance announced his resignation on Sunday for a crack at a federal seat, meaning the state government faces three looming by-elections.
Mr Barilaro revealed his decision in a statement on Monday morning, saying the state’s emergence from lockdown presented an opportunity for a “refresh”.
At a later press conference Mr Barilaro said while it had been “an absolute privilege” to serve NSW as Deputy Premier for five years, the strains of public office had taken its toll.
He cited the stress of an ongoing defamation case against YouTuber Jordan Shanks as contributing factors to his sudden exit.
It will leave the state with a new leadership team, with Treasurer Dominic Perrottet expected to be installed as Premier on Tuesday.
As we emerge from lockdown, we must embrace this time as a new beginning for our State, and welcome the opportunity it presents for a refresh.
— John Barilaro MP (@JohnBarilaroMP) October 3, 2021
I have decided now is the right time for me to hand the reins over to new leadership, and resign as Deputy Premier of NSW. pic.twitter.com/MeWBWMR38P
“In public office, everything is laid out to bare and in my life over this journey I’ve been quite honest with the media and the public about moments in my life, the good days, some of the tough days, even my own personal experiences,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Even in these recent months, and over the past 12 months especially, the very public defamation case that I have going on at the moment ... it is unbelievable that I have to defend myself from vile and racist attacks in a social media setting by individuals.
“And a trillion-dollar company like Google allows that sort of vile, racial attack on any individual, regardless of public figure or not, to remain is something that I can’t believe in 2021 still exists.
“As a young boy of migrant parents, I understood what racism was, and was called many of those names. I never thought that in 2021 I would still have to deal with this.”
The 49-year-old said he would call a party room meeting on Wednesday to formally resign and call a ballot for a new leader.
NSW Water Minister Melinda Pavey on Monday put herself forward for the job, saying she was the “most experienced Nationals MPs in Australia”.
Mr Barilaro’s by-election leaves the NSW government, with a one-seat majority, facing three by-elections — including Ms Berejiklian’s Willoughby seat and Mr Constance in Bega — in quick succession.
The Nationals hold the seat of Monaro with a 9.1 per cent margin.
Mr Barilaro is suing Mr Shanks, known as FriendlyJordies, in the Federal Court over two videos that he claims defamed him in “vile and racist” attacks that portrayed him as a “corrupt conman”.
He is also suing Google, the publisher of YouTube, over the two videos titled “bruz” and “Secret Dictatorship”.
Mr Barilaro confirmed that he was paying his own legal costs in the legal matter, saying that having to answer such questions had “cemented” his reasoning for choosing to leave politics.
“You ask a question about who is paying the bill, I am paying the bill,” he said. “For you to ask that question has cemented why I’m leaving today.”
In June NSW Police charged 21-year-old FriendlyJordies producer Kristo Langker with two counts of stalking Mr Barilaro.
Mr Langker pleaded not guilty to both charges in Newtown local court.
Perrottet ‘has all the skills’ to lead
Mr Barilaro expressed his support for premier-in-waiting Mr Perrottet.
“Along this journey, I’ve been able to serve under incredible Premiers, incredible friends, my colleagues in the Nationals, my parliamentary colleagues in the Liberal Party,” he said.
“I wish, of course, the Liberal Party the best in their deliberations about their next leader and as we saw yesterday no doubt it looks like Dominic Perrottet, someone I call a friend, someone I know, who will take this state right now at a time that needs strong leadership through the opening up, the end of the pandemic, the start of the recovery.
“And I genuinely believe in his role as Treasurer he has all the skills and all the ability and if endorsed as the leader of the Liberal Party, Premier of this state, he will do a wonderful job.”
Mr Barilaro ruled out a run at federal politics.
The resignation of Mr Constance had brought on questions about his future, the Nationals leader said. But despite rumours he would run for the federal seat of Eden-Monaro, Mr Barilaro said he had no intention of continuing his political career.
“Seeing Andrew Constance yesterday announce that he will exit state politics was in one way, a moment, that made me think about when was the right time,” Mr Barilaro said.
“There is never a right time, but I know as the architect of the roadmap and we get to open up on Monday, someone who has delivered a roadmap not only in 2020, but this year, I’m confident that this state now has bright days ahead of us.”
Perrottet ‘deeply saddened’ at Barilaro call
Mr Perrottet thanked Mr Barilaro for his service as Deputy Premier, in which time he had “ushered in” the next generation of Nationals leaders in NSW, adding that the mass exodus was an opportunity to “inject new energy and leadership” in the government.
Mr Perrottet said: “I am deeply saddened at the loss of a close friend and formidable colleague in NSW parliament, however I know it is a decision John has been considering for some time, and I understand and support him in his decision.
“John is one of the fiercest and most effective advocates for the people of regional NSW that our state has ever known.
“His long track record across a range of portfolios leaves our state – and especially our regions – much stronger, and with a brighter future, from delivering local schools and hospitals for people in our regions, creating jobs and establishing new centres of economic activity through Special Activation Precincts, to most recently leading on the NSW Roadmap.”
An at-times controversial member of the Coalition, Mr Barilaro has previously clashed with Liberal Planning Minister Rob Stokes over koala planning laws.
Mr Barilaro said he would speak to the Speaker and the NSW Electoral Commission to organise a by-election for his seat.
“People are sometimes quick to write off the National Party, but it’s the Nats in government who are, and always will be, the praetorian guard of common sense,” he said.
“National’s Leaders have led that guard, and I am proud to be in their company. Now I am passing on that honour.”
Contender puts herself forward as Nats leadership candidate
Nationals MP Melinda Pavey said her experience made her an option as state party leader.
“I think it is time for us to have a great leader in NSW to continue the work of John Barilaro, that product differentiation, standing up for the regions and fighting for it, and I am a woman as well,” she told Sky News this morning.
Ms Pavey said that she had the “passion, energy and experience” for the job even after so many years in parliament, adding that she had “fought many elections” and had spent almost ten “dark, horrible” years in opposition.
“It is about continuing to strive for our fair share, continuing to address the housing issues we have now in regional NSW,” she said.
“We’ve got really strong growth opportunities in the regions just down to the simple stuff and continuing road funding and helping local councils fix their timber bridges and unsealed roads.”
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