Departing MP calls for image lift

FORMER NSW Liberal leader Peter Debnam has had a spray at both sides of politics in his valedictory speech to the NSW parliament.

FORMER NSW Liberal leader Peter Debnam has had a spray at both sides of politics in his valedictory speech to the NSW parliament.

Mr Debnam, who led the Liberals to their last election loss in 2007, said question time in the state parliament "has degenerated into indulgent and petty politicking".

He said that with the so many new MPs set to be elected at the upcoming state poll in March, "it really is time to reconsider the image (the parliament) wants to project".

With the NSW Coalition widely expected to end 16 years of Labor rule at next year's election, Mr Debnam, who described politics as "messy and dirty", said it wasn't enough for NSW to simply "get a new jockey".

"The public administration of this state needs to be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century," he said.

"My colleagues must strive to change the outdated mode of state politics in NSW, not simply ride it."

But the retiring member for Vaucluse saved his harshest words for his former adversary Bob Carr, who was premier of NSW from 1995 to 2005.

"With Bob Carr, all that mattered was media manipulation, and he got away with it for 10 years."

Earlier, NSW environment minister Frank Sartor attacked his former state Labor colleagues who are now working for Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Referring to his time as planning minister - a "difficult period" with the portfolio under close scrutiny by ICAC in relation to the Wollongong corruption scandal - Mr Sartor said those responsible for the donations-to-developers strategy were now working in the national capital.

The architects of the "donation strategy have long since taken refuge in the corridors of power in Canberra," Mr Sartor told parliament.

He became emotional during this valedictory speech when he mentioned losing his mother to cancer when he was 16, and his former partner to cancer when she was just 30.

"The creation of the state cancer institute has been my proudest achievement in public life," he said.

In December last year, Mr Sartor contested a leadership ballot after Nathan Rees was ousted as Premier.

Mr Sartor narrowly lost the ballot to Kristina Keneally.