Former NSW premier Barry O’Farrell to quit state politics at election

FORMER NSW premier Barry O’Farrell will retire from state politics after a two-decade career.

Former NSW premier Barry O’Farrell has announced he will retire from state politics at the next election.

FORMER NSW premier Barry O’Farrell will not recontest his seat and will retire from state politics after a two-decade career in which he was elected with a ­record majority in 2011.

Mr O’Farrell, the premier whose reign was cut short in April over a $3000 bottle of Grange Hermitage, told supporters on Twitter last night that he had ­advised Ku-ring-ai Liberal Party branch members that he would not stand again.

Earlier he said he had ­informed his successor, Mike Baird, of his decision.

“For almost 20 years I’ve been honoured to serve my community and I thank local residents and branch members for their strong support over five campaigns,” Mr O’Farrell said.

There has been speculation in recent months that Mr O’Farrell might seek a NSW Senate seat in federal parliament, although he has dismissed such rumours.

Mr O’Farrell resigned in May after misleading the Independent Commission Against Corruption over the gift of a bottle of Grange from Liberal Party identity and lobbyist Nick Di Girolamo, who sought a government contract for his company Australian Water Holdings.

Mr O’Farrell adamantly told the ICAC it couldn’t have happened, as he would have remembered it. The next day, Mr Di Girolamo handed ICAC a handwritten thank you note from Mr O’Farrell. He resigned within an hour, citing a “massive memory fail” in one of the more extraordinary and bizarre finishes to a premier’s career.

Mr O’Farrell, who avoided making an valedictory speech to parliament last week, said last night his election was the ­return of “responsible government to NSW — committed to governing for all’’.

He pointed to the introduction of the electronic public transport Opal card, reduced emergency ward waiting times, improved literacy and numeracy results, and a reorganised government services centres as major achievements.

Mr Baird praised only the third Liberal to win government in NSW. “After 16 dismal years of NSW Labor, Barry rebuilt the fundamentals of governance in NSW,’’ the Premier said.

“A highlight was the establishment of Infrastructure NSW, which finally removed the politics and pork-barrelling from decisions on major projects, and which stands as a monument to his tenure.

“But perhaps Barry’s most ­enduring legacy is a very human one: more than 71,000 new housing lots, released and rezoned since March 2011, supported with infrastructure and ready to be ­occupied by families. Barry was a premier who believed in growth and put to rest any suggestion that ‘Sydney is full’.’’

Mr O’Farrell resignation sets up what a highly contested preselection for his Sydney north shore seat of Ku-ring-ai. Among names speculated are local electoral conference president Carolyn Cameron, radio personality Jason Morrison, and lawyer Alister Henskens, who represented former minister Chris Hartcher at the ICAC inquiry.

After 20 years in parliament, he will be entitled to a lifetime-indexed pension of at least $156,000, or a lump sum of up to 10 times that amount.

Mr O’Farrell, 55, is a former ­director of the NSW Liberal Party who entered state parliament in 1995, the year the Coalition lost to Labor, then led by Bob Carr.

He was originally elected to the safe Liberal seat of Northcott in Sydney’s north and switched to Ku-ring-ai in 1999.

Mr O’Farrell became leader of the NSW Liberal opposition after the Coalition’s defeat at the 2007 election.

He succeeded Peter Debnam as party leader and followed a succession of Liberals in opposition, including Kerry Chikarovski and Peter Collins.

Mr O’Farrell led the Coalition to a landslide victory against Labor, led by Kristina Keneally, in 2011.

Additional reporting: Brad Norington