2021 New South Wales Liberal Party leadership election explained

Election Name:2021 Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division) leadership election
Flag Image:Liberal-Party-of-Australia-stub.svg
Type:presidential
Vote Type:Caucus
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2019 Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division) leadership election
Previous Year:2019
Next Election:2023 Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division) leadership election
Next Year:2023
1Blank:Caucus
2Blank:Seat
3Blank:Faction
Candidate1:Dominic Perrottet
1Data1:39
2Data1:Epping
3Data1:Conservative[1]
Colour1:0047AB
Percentage1:88.63%
Candidate2:Rob Stokes
1Data2:5
2Data2:Pittwater
Percentage2:11.37%
Colour2:0047AB
Election Date:5 October 2021
Leader
Before Election:Gladys Berejiklian
After Election:Dominic Perrottet

The 2021 Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division) leadership election was a leadership vote held on 5 October 2021 to elect a new leader of the New South Wales Division of the Liberal Party of Australia and subsequently the Premier of New South Wales, following the resignation of Gladys Berejiklian. The election was conducted among the Liberal Party members of the Parliament of New South Wales and contested between Dominic Perrottet and Rob Stokes. Perrottet won the election 39 votes to 5.[2] Stuart Ayres was elected unopposed as deputy party leader.

The leadership election was the first time Liberal Party parliamentary members had to vote for a leader in almost twenty years. The previous occurrence was in 2002, which was contested between incumbent Kerry Chikarovski and John Brogden.[3]

A separate leadership election for the Liberal Party's coalition partner, the NSW Nationals, was held the following day.

Background

Gladys Berejiklian announced her resignation as premier and the leader of the party on 1 October 2021 following the announcement by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) would be investigating her role regarding grants in the Riverina region of New South Wales between 2012 and 2018. Part of the investigation is also looking into her previous relationship with former MP Daryl Maguire who had held the seat of Wagga Wagga from 1999 until his resignation in 2018. Appearing before the ICAC on 14 October 2020, Maguire admitted that he used his position as a member of parliament and as a Parliamentary Secretary to make money for himself and his associates.[4] [5] Berejiklian's resignation came at a time when the state was managing the prolonged effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reports by various media sources on 3 October indicated that Dominic Perrottet, the current Treasurer of New South Wales had secured a factional deal to become Premier with Stuart Ayres as his deputy.[6] However, Stokes confirmed that he would still contest the leadership election so that "factional heavyweights don't have a say" on 4 October.[7]

Candidates

Declared

Declined

See also

References

Notes

Citations

Notes and References

  1. News: Smith . Alexandra . 1 October 2021 . Perrottet and Stokes emerge as frontrunners for NSW Premier . . Sources from Mr Perrottet’s right faction believe the 39-year-old father-of-six has the support within the Liberal Party room to take over the leadership. A source who was not authorised to speak on internal party matters said Mr Perrottet had the backing of his faction as well as a large proportion of moderates MPs and three unaligned MPs. However, the moderates are the dominant faction and Mr Stokes could emerge as their preferred candidate, with Mr Perrottet as his deputy.. 30 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130015538/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/perrottet-and-stokes-emerge-as-frontrunners-for-nsw-premier-20211001-p58whc.html . live.
  2. News: Dominic Perrottet becomes 46th NSW Premier after winning Liberal leadership vote. ABC News. 5 October 2021. 5 October 2021 . Cockburn . Paige . 30 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130014921/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-05/dominic-perrottet-becomes-nsw-premier/100513804 . live.
  3. News: Dominic Perrottet has been voted NSW Premier: Here's what you should know about the new leader. news.com.au. 5 October 2021. 5 October 2021 . Erin . Lyons . 30 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130015033/https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/liberal-party-to-decide-new-nsw-premier-in-hours-with-dominic-perrottet-the-likely-frontrunner/news-story/0024dceb68bdf933f70e97821398f587 . live . NCA NewsWire.
  4. 2021-10-01. Further Operation Keppel public inquiry. en-AU. ICAC. 30 November 2023 . Sydney. The Commission is investigating whether, between 2012 and 2018, the Hon Gladys Berejiklian MP engaged in conduct that:... * was liable to allow or encourage the occurrence of corrupt conduct by Mr Maguire.. 30 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130032438/https://www.icac.nsw.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/2021-media-releases/further-operation-keppel-public-inquiry . live.
  5. News: Gladys Berejiklian resigns as NSW Premier after ICAC probe into her relationship with Daryl Maguire announced . 1 October 2021 . 1 October 2021. ABC News.
  6. News: Smith . Alexandra . Cormack . Lucy . Rabe . Tom . 3 October 2021 . Deal struck for Dominic Perrottet to become premier, Stuart Ayres his deputy . . Sydney . 2021-05-10.
  7. News: Cockburn . Paige . 4 October 2021 . Rob Stokes stays in race to be next NSW premier so 'factional heavyweights' don't have final say . . Sydney . 2021-05-10.