5 Oct 2021

Dominic Perrottet becomes 46th New South Wales Premier

1:32 pm on 5 October 2021

Dominic Perrottet has been voted the New South Wales Liberal leader and will take over as the state's Premier.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 09: NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet speaks to the media during a COVID-19 press conference on September 9, 2021 in Sydney, Australia.

Photo: 2021 Getty Images

He defeated Planning Minister Rob Stokes in a party room ballot by 39 votes to 5.

Jobs Minister Stuart Ayres will become his deputy leader and Matt Kean, who is the current Environment Minister, is expected to be promoted to Treasurer.

While leaving the party room with his colleagues, Perrottet said it was an "honour and absolute privilege" to be elected.

"I really appreciate the trust my colleagues have put in me today," he said.

While Perrottet is from the less dominant right faction of the Liberal party, Ayres and Kean are from the moderate faction.

The party room was forced to vote for a new leader after the shock resignation of Gladys Berejiklian last Friday following an announcement that she would be investigated for alleged corruption.

Stokes was largely considered an outside chance but Perrottet said if he was elected he would be sure to give Stokes a senior position in the ministry.

- ABC