CHANGE OF HANDS

It seems a case of out with the old and in with the new for the Parliament of NSW. Just days after Berejiklian’s resignation, Deputy Premier John Barilaro confirmed he was also following the former premier out the door. Barilaro said it felt right to leave to give NSW a fresh start with two new leaders, although he admitted they had “big shoes to fill”.

NSW’s Treasurer Dominic Perrottet was quickly dubbed the premier’s successor in a meeting on October 5 after a weekend of political jostling, with the Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney, Stuart Ayres, given the deputy role.

Barilaro insisted he had been considering the move for some time.

Perrottet agreed that Berejiklian was “one of the most outstanding leaders” NSW has ever had.