As the battle to replace Gladys Berejiklian as New South Wales premier begins, one of the top contenders has promised not to change the state’s lockdown exit plan if elected by his peers.
Berejiklian announced her resignation on Friday after the Independent Commission Against Corruption disclosed the second-term premier was under investigation for potential breaches of public trust.
She will also resign from parliament as soon as a byelection for her north Sydney seat of Willoughby can be held.
Berejiklian will remain premier until the Liberal party elects a replacement.
The planning minister and Pittwater MP, Rob Stokes – who has been described as a key ally of Ms Berejiklian – told reporters outside his home on Saturday that he had been talking to his colleagues about his leadership ambitions and was encouraged by the level of support so far.
Stokes – who was elected in 2007 and has also served as minister for environment and transport – is expected to go up against the frontrunner, treasurer Dominic Perrottet.
“I think Dom has strong claims to the job and he’s putting them out there … but I believe I have the qualities necessary to provide strong government into the future,” Stokes told the ABC.
He told 7News: “I think I owe it to my community and our to the people in NSW to at least provide them that choice.”
Perrottet said on Friday he would speak with his family and colleagues over the coming days on “how I can best serve the people of NSW”, praising Berejiklian as one of NSW’s finest ever premiers.
Stokes commended Berejiklian on Saturday, promising to abide by the roadmap out of lockdown that she unveiled only weeks ago.
“Gladys Berejiklian has provided an extraordinary example of leadership and of stability and it would be my intention to continue [the plan] as laid out, particularly in relation to the opening up,” he told the ABC.
Other potential contenders for NSW premier include the environment minister, Matt Kean, and the tourism minister, Stuart Ayres.
The transport minister, Andrew Constance, and the attorney general, Mark Speakman, have also been spoken of as possible candidates.
The prime minister, Scott Morrison, said Berejiklian was a “dear friend” and lauded her “heroic” qualities on Friday.
Supportive constituents gathered outside her home on Saturday with flowers and balloons in her initials while others stood outside her office with handmade signs reading “We love Gladys” and “Long live Gladys”.
The anti-corruption watchdog says it is investigating whether Berejiklian “exercised public functions” in a position of conflict given her secret five-year relationship with ex-MP Daryl Maguire, revealed at its hearings in late 2020.
Maguire is accused of abusing his public office between 2012 and 2018.
Berejiklian said on Friday she had “no option” other than to resign, as she could not temporarily step aside and resume her role after the investigation.
Her resignation “could not happen at a worse time,” she said, as the state prepared to leave months of Covid-enforced lockdowns in less than two weeks.
She continues to deny any wrongdoing.
“History will demonstrate that I have always executed my duties with the highest degree of integrity for the benefit of the people of NSW, who I have had the privilege to serve,” she said.