NSW Transport Minister David Elliott says he will nominate for the Liberal party’s deputy leadership to support an “under the bomb” premier after the post was vacated by former minister Stuart Ayres.
Elliott is poised to take on Treasurer Matt Kean in the race for the role after the former trade minister resigned on Wednesday over his possible involvement in the John Barilaro Labor fiasco.
Transport Minister David Elliott wants to become deputy Liberal leader in NSW. Credit: Brook Mitchell
Skills and Science Minister Alister Henskens and Metropolitan Roads Minister Natalie Ward are also in the running for the post, which will be decided in a party room vote next Tuesday.
The Minister of Transport and Veterans Affairs – who is also one of the government’s most outspoken ministers – said on Thursday that he was “very sad to see” that Ayres had to step down under the circumstances and that he was only reluctantly volunteering to fill your place
“He’s been a senior servant to the party, he’s a great member for Penrith and he’s been a wonderful minister for western Sydney… It’s one of those occasions where I don’t give my name, or I don’t do a single ยท request. support, out of excitement or enthusiasm,” Elliott told radio station 2GB on Thursday morning.
“The Prime Minister is under the bomb right now. I think the easiest thing for people to do right now is to walk away or keep their heads down because, you know, the Prime Minister is dealing with a number of difficult issues.
“But this is not my style. If a colleague needs a helping hand, I’m putting mine up to give them that help.”
Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet’s government has faced constant crises since Barilaro was appointed to a $500,000-a-year trade post in late June. Perrottet has lost two ministers this week alone to scandal: former fair trade minister Eleni Petinos amid bullying allegations, as well as Ayres.