By Riley Stuart of the ABC
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet. Photo: 2021 Getty Images
Analysis - NSW premiers are no strangers to sudden resignations.
In 2014 Barry O'Farrell quit when it was revealed at the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) he didn't declare a $3,000 bottle of wine given to him as a gift - eventually, he was cleared of any wrongdoing.
Gladys Berejiklian walked out in October 2021 when she was named as the subject of an ICAC probe.
Fifteen months later, we're still waiting to see if any actual findings are made against her.
The ICAC isn't involved this time, so where Dominic Perrottet's decision to wear a Nazi costume to his 21st birthday fits on NSW's spectrum of scandals really depends on who you talk to.
Acting Prime Minister Jim Chalmers, said it was "shocking", while Perrottet described it as "a mistake".
At best, it's a privileged private school graduate and Sydney University law student celebrating the traditional start of adult life with the ultimate cringe.
At worst, it shows a complete disregard for the mass murder of millions - the history, suffering and survival of Jewish people globally nothing more than collateral damage in the name of a costume.
Not about politics?
On Friday, Perrottet told reporters this was "not about politics". But there's evidence it is.
It's now been revealed the storm began when Transport Minister David Elliott phoned the premier on Tuesday night to raise the issue of the costume.
The pair are at odds over Perrottet's plans to introduce a cashless gaming card for people who want to use pokies in NSW's pubs and clubs.
The government hopes it will reduce problem gambling and curb money laundering.
Elliott, a director of the Castle Hill RSL and former executive at the NSW Australian Hotels Association, thinks the laws go too far.
The powerful lobby group ClubsNSW has already run targeted ads against one anti-gambling MP in regional NSW, and, in early December, indicated its campaign could be replicated in other parts of the state.
Perrottet said at the time he would not be "threatened" into backing down on his reforms.
Elliott isn't contesting March's state election. His Baulkham Hills seat was abolished during a redistribution, and he said there was not enough support for him to win pre-selection in the new electorate of Castle Hill.
He's also had to excuse himself from cabinet decisions about gaming because his son works for gambling giant Aristocrat - something that was revealed on Tuesday morning.
Now, there's no suggestion anyone has been threatening anyone.
There's also no suggestion Liberal infighting over the proposed gaming reforms is among the reasons Perrottet decided this week might be a good time to dredge up his party outfits from nearly two decades ago in front of a bunch of journalists.
The whole thing is just really, really messy.
Premier holds on
On Thursday, after Perrottet shocked reporters by raising the issue of the Nazi costume, unprompted, during an afternoon press conference, the premier provided more context.
He said he was "deeply ashamed", and his parents had told him the day after his party - held in 2003 - that what he did was wrong.
The premier, who is now 40, also admitted the incident had been in his thoughts over the past 20 years.
At times, Perrottet looked genuinely afflicted as he apologised again and again for wearing the uniform.
In deciding to speak about it, though, Perrottet did manage to get ahead of the story.
While there have been reports a picture of the 21-year-old premier in his costume is circulating, it hasn't actually hit the press yet.
When Perrottet went public, anyone who might have wanted to use an image against him had their bargaining chip significantly devalued.
Jewish leaders condemned the premier for his decision to wear the uniform.
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Darren Bark told the ABC members of the community had been left in tears by the revelation.
At least one Holocaust survivor called the Sydney Jewish Museum, distressed.
Rabbi Benjamin Elton, from the Great Synagogue, said some non-Jews trying to explain away the outfit as a dumb mistake from the premier's youth didn't really understand the impact the Swastika had on his community.
Perrottet met Jewish leaders straight after he went public about his costume.
The next day, he dug his heels in, and reiterated how sorry he was.
He said he thought his position as premier was safe.
Where to now?
If Perrottet had any intention of resigning over the Nazi uniform, he could have done it on Thursday.
It's now more a question of whether anyone else wants his job.
Today marks 10 weeks until people in NSW go to the polls - not exactly the best time to be having a leadership spill.
Then there's the question of "who".
When Perrottet took over from Berejiklian in 2021, moderate Rob Stokes stood against him in a partyroom ballot.
Stokes lost 39 votes to five. He's decided not to contest the next election.
The premier is from the NSW's non-dominant right faction.
In order to ascend to the top job, he required the support of moderates who are led by Treasurer Matt Kean.
Yesterday, when asked whether he supported the premier, Kean offered a cheery "of course" as he strode past reporters on Bligh Street.
Perrottet is hardly the first prominent man in a Nazi uniform outrage.
The late Formula 1 baron Max Mosley took the now-defunct British tabloid News of the World to court in 2008, after it alleged he had been involved in a "sick Nazi orgy".
Justice David Eady ruled that, even though an attendee at the event was donning a military uniform, it had no connection to the Nazis.
And in 2005, a 20-year-old Prince Harry was snapped wearing a swastika at a fancy dress party.
Post-scandal, Mosley kept his position as president of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile.
Prince Harry lived through the media scrutiny his costume created, but, the incident surfaced again this week after he claimed in his memoir that members of the royal family had encouraged him to wear it.
Both lived to fight another day after being in similar situations to Perrottet, but the ghost of past indiscretions have never been far from the public imagination.
The biggest difference? Neither Mosley nor the prince had to face the public at the ballot box in a bid to keep their jobs.
- ABC
