NSW Deputy Premier and Nationals leader John Barilaro is resigning from state parliament because he does not have the energy, opening up a potential three-way contest within his party.
Mr Barilaro, who holds the state seat of Monaro, said NSW would be best served by someone who had the passion and fight to forge on.
“I just don’t have the energy anymore,” he told reporters on Monday.
While the move comes days after Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was leaving, the outgoing leader of the junior coalition party said he had been “thinking about this for a while”.
Once mooted as a possible runner for the federal seat of Eden-Monaro, Mr Barilaro on Monday ruled that out.
“I have no intention and will not … be running for Eden-Monaro or for federal politics,” he said.
“I’m looking for a new career. I turn 50 in November, maybe a bit of a midlife crisis, but definitely thinking about what happens next. I will take some time out, but I genuinely won’t be running for federal politics.”
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, who intends to run for the Liberal leader and premier positions at a party meeting on Tuesday, said Mr Barilaro would be missed.
“I know it is a decision John has been considering for some time, and I understand and support him in his decision,” Mr Perrottet said in a statement.
“John is one of the fiercest and most effective advocates for the people of regional NSW that our state has ever known.”
Mr Barilaro also said the strain of his ongoing defamation case against Jordan Shanks-Markovina, known as entertainer friendlyjordies, “played a big part of this”.
“I don’t know how many of you can endure what I’ve endured online,” he said describing the YouTuber’s videos about him as “vile”.
Mr Barilaro acknowledged the new cabinet would soon likely be headed by Mr Perrottet, who has emerged as the frontrunner over the weekend.
As NSW gets ready to open up from COVID-19 restrictions using the roadmap Mr Barilaro helped create, he said Mr Perrottet had the ability to lead the state into recovery.
“I’m confident that this state now has bright days ahead of us,” Mr Barilaro said.
But he would not be drawn on who the next Nationals leader would be.
Nationals MPs Melinda Pavey, Paul Toole and Adam Marshall are believed to be the main contenders to lead the party and become the new deputy premier.
Mr Toole said he would consider “how best I can serve our party” over the next 24 hours before announcing whether or not he will run.
Mr Barilaro has called a Nationals party room meeting for Wednesday when he will formally resign and call for a ballot for a new Leader.
Once that is settled, Mr Barilaro will work with the Speaker and the Electoral Commission to determine a date for a by-election in his seat.
Mr Barilaro said he was deeply grateful to the NSW Nationals and grassroots members.
“People are sometimes quick to write off the National Party, but it’s the Nats in government who are, and always will be, the praetorian guard of common sense,” he said.
During his time as deputy premier, Mr Barilaro oversaw policy responses to drought, the worst bushfires in living memory, severe storm and flood disasters, and a one-in-100 years global pandemic.
AAP
Get all the latest Canberra news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
