New South Wales’ new Premier Dominic Perrottet said that he is beginning “a new chapter for New South Wales and one that we will all write together”. I hope and pray this is true. I hope and pray that he brings his strong Christian faith into his leadership and isn’t held back by the men in the shadows of the Liberal Party. He’s exactly the person to give power back to the people and let make their own decisions without the government dictating their life. He wants to begin a new chapter that we all can write and he’ll go a long way to proving this by reforming the reopening plan so that people have the ability to be personally responsible rather than have society segregated by government decree. We can’t have more of the same, Premier; no more “health” dictates, no more segregation and no more coercion. There’s hope in NSW, Premier; hope for businesses, hope for families and hope for our freedoms.
In this post, I’ll take a look at his first speech as Premier and the responses that he gave to journalists’ questions.
The Speech
Thank you all for coming and I want to start by acknowledging that the events of the last few days have been incredibly difficult and I think we all understand why. Unexpected change can bring uncertainty and sometimes for many that can feel unsettling. But as hard as it may be, we all have a duty as a state to keep on going. Today begins a new chapter for New South Wales and one that we will all write together.
Dominic Perrottet
That’s good to hear. This is a new chapter. It isn’t Gladys Berejiklian 2.0 at all. It’s also good to hear that he’s not fearmongering about the change of leadership and is moving on.
I am honoured that my colleagues have asked me to write that chapter as Premier and I thank them for the confidence that they’ve put in me.
Dominic Perrottet
It makes sense to acknowledge them. Rob Stokes did still challenge for the leadership and got some votes but overwhelmingly the party voted for Dominic Perrottet.
The first thing I want to do today is to acknowledge my predecessor and pay tribute to her. Gladys Berejiklian, whose strong and steady leadership has seen us through so many difficult challenges. Everyone would agree that her hard work, tireless dedication and total commitment to her job was second to none. She’s been an inspiring role model for many, especially women and migrant communities and that’s just one of the reasons why I believe there has been such an outpouring of support over the last few days. It is my hope that I will continue the strong leadership that Gladys has shown throughout this pandemic.
Dominic Perrottet
Notice what he didn’t say. He didn’t say that Gladys Berejiklian was the best thing since sliced bread. He didn’t smear the ICAC which practically brought down Gladys Berejiklian’s premiership. There’s a reason for that. She did something wrong. Whether that wrong this was enough for her to be called corrupt is irrelevant, she chose to resign. In my books, you don’t run away when you’re innocent.
Besides, these aren’t the only allegations of corruption, Clive Palmer suggested that she was paid millions by COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers AstraZeneca and Pfizer to drive policy; certainly if this is true, they’d have something to do with the coercive vaccine passports. Have a look below.
Secondly, I’d like to congratulate and acknowledge Stuart Ayres who has been elected by the Liberal Party as my deputy. Stuart, as you all know, is a fighter for Western Sydney and that is where the heart of this government will be.
Dominic Perrottet
Stuart Ayres is a moderate. That’s one of the dangers of this government. We have a Christian and a conservative at the helm but he’s supported by moderates and the liberal left. What did he have to give up to ensure that he got the job? If I start seeing Dominic Perrottet espouse policies that aren’t his own, then I won’t be afraid to call it out. I won’t tolerate hypocrisy and people selling their souls for power. He must prove his Christian convictions unlike Gladys Berejiklian whose Christian leanings and abortion opposition was quashed by her need to appease the pro-abortion crowd.
Thirdly to my wife, Helen, and my kids, without your love and support I would not be here today.
Dominic Perrottet
That’s right. A family man. Now whatever you have to say about Gladys Berejiklian, she didn’t have a family. She doesn’t have that ability to connect with family like Dominic Perrottet does. He thanks them. They’re not just a footnote to him. Family actually matters. He knows what families go through.
Being Premier is a great honour. But I want to be clear that the job I have committed to today is not just to lead New South Wales but to serve all the people of our state. For the past 18 months together we’ve been battling a storm that is COVID-19. Some have lost their lives. Many have lost their livelihoods. So many sacrifices big and small have been made by so many for so long. Not being able to leave our homes, not being able to go to work, not being able to visit our loved ones. Parents having to work and balance home school at the same time. Many have missed weddings, many have missed funerals and the opportunity to say goodbye to their loved ones. These sacrifices are never easy and I know for many they have taken a huge toll, physical, financial, and psychological.
Dominic Perrottet
He acknowledges the pain. He acknowledges the sacrifices. He tells it as it is. People are so hurt by these government restrictions. This pain isn’t COVID-19, this is caused the government; they caused this. We don’t have tone-deaf Gladys Berejiklian who tells people that going to see elderly people that “And just to bring home that you might think you are doing your grandmother or your aunt a favour by dropping in and giving them food or going in to say hello, but that could be a death sentence”. Let’s just say that no insults are needed for her when she digs her own hole with her words.
Dominic Perrottet understands that people need connection. You can’t just shut down society for one particular virus and expect everything to be fine. Firstly, it’s ridiculous to shut down because it is one virus. Secondly, shutting down society is going to have a far greater negative impact than any potential gain from trying to prevent COVID-19.
In our regional communities as well, this has come off the back of floods, bushfires and drought. You don’t get to choose the times in which you live and this is one of the most challenging times that our people of our state have faced. But New South Wales has never shied away from the challenge and we will be rising to this one as well. For long months we have fought the good fight. That has been helped by our quality of our healthcare and our strong economic and financial foundations that have kept people in jobs and businesses in business. And now whilst there are still more challenging days to come, there is light at the end of the tunnel, thanks to the way that everyone across our state has responded.
Dominic Perrottet
I fully agree with him on this. I believe it has been “one of the most challenging times that our people of our state have faced” but not for the reasons you expect. It’s been challenging because of the government’s dictates and not because of COVID-19.
We had a good 12 or so months from June 2020 to July 2021 with hardly any community cases of COVID-19. We knew there was still a threat but we lived life relatively normally. More and more restrictions were scrapped until Delta ended our stretch of normality. It was the NSW Government that imposed these restrictions as a result of this.
We needed to have a choice here. For the first time, we knew the threat fully and could make an informed choice; we had to decide to live with COVID-19 like we had or shut ourselves away. That decision was robbed from us. It hurt us New South Welshmen. With Western Australia, Queensland and Victoria, you know what you’d get with COVID-19 cases; lockdown. Gladys Berejiklian betrayed us. She went power mad when more cases emerged and she dictated brutal rules. It was her previously praised proportionality to COVID-19 that undid her because it was ultimately proportional to case numbers and not the risk.
Dominic Perrottet said, “there is light at the end of the tunnel, thanks to the way that everyone across our state has responded”. It’s a sad acknowledgement since this we deserve something for following the draconian rules yet this never should of happened. It’s like getting some hospital green jelly after breaking your leg in order to save a falling baby that someone else threw in the air. It’s welcome but if they didn’t through the baby, there’d be no reason for it. So, thank you, Premier but also this never should of happened. As he said, we have the healthcare capacity to cope and so we should be able to live whilst they take care of the vulnerable and sick.
We want New South Wales to bounce back stronger, safer and more successful than ever before. To get back to the life that we love and the freedoms that we hold dear. As a former treasurer, I know that a strong society needs a strong economy and that’s why our first priority will be to continue the plan that we’ve started. Keeping people safe, opening up the economy and securing our recovery.
Dominic Perrottet
That’s right; bounce back. This isn’t a time for a “Great Reset” that the global elitist communists want where they control everything and the ordinary citizen has nothing. We’re getting back to where life was and that’s the right thing to do. The only broad changes that we need to make are on a personal level, to accept Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and put our trust in Him, if we haven’t already.
Yes, we need that strong economy. It isn’t heartless to focus on that. Jobs are important for both financial and mental health reasons. People need to interact with each other and build each other up. The economy is a key part of our society as that is an important focus, as he said.
Up until now all our Liberal premiers have been infrastructure premiers. Building the roads, the rail, the schools and the hospitals for communities right across our state and that will not change with me. But I’ll also be a family Premier, focussing on how we can make life better for working families. Living the liberal values of opportunity, aspiration and hard work.
Dominic Perrottet
He’s right; Barry O’Farrell, Mike Baird and Gladys Berejiklian have all got things built. That isn’t all that a premier needs to do. He knows that a good conservative and for that matter Liberal Party member, should be for families; for making lives better for them. Families are the basic unit of society. It’s from there that you build neighbourhoods (churches too for Christians), towns, cities, regions and then nations.
It’s one of the many things that I disagree with libertarians on; I don’t believe that the individual is the basic unit of society. That doesn’t mean that individual rights aren’t important at all. In fact, individual rights and freedoms are so important and must be upheld; though the various levels of government in Australia have ignored them in the last 18 months.
What I’m saying is that an individual isn’t a unit. Just one person doesn’t interact with anyone. You don’t build a society with individuals with nothing in common. A family interacts. They talk, eat, work and worship together. They have values and systems. That’s a unit of society.
Of course, not all families are perfect but that’s what should happen. That’s what churches and government should work to build. I’m so glad that Dominic Perrottet is making this a key focus of his government.
The true strength of New South Wales is its people. Our tradies, our working mums and dads, small business owners, community groups and frontline workers, our teachers, our nurses, our doctors, our paramedics, firies and police. Our state is a rich tapestry with a rich history from our proud First Nations people, to those who have come here from every corner of the globe. No matter who you are, where you come from or what you believe, it is the greatest privilege of my life to represent and serve every one of you.
Dominic Perrottet
He’s spot on. Our people are our strength. The government should be a reflection of a society and not a Big Brother TV screen telling us what to do.
Dominic Perrottet, why are you saying First Nations? This is a virtue signalling phrase. For so long the words Indigenous and Aboriginal have been used. The terminology is used by the Left to push a hierarchy of people and use Aboriginal to promote their horrific ideologies because their ancestors lived in a certain place first. Maybe it’s just the term he uses and he’s a nice bloke and wants to say the right thing not to offend people. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt on that one for now.
Though, once again, conservatism is proven to just be common sense. Being Australian has nothing to do with where you’re born but what values you uphold. That’s so true and he is there to represent and serve and not repress and enslave.
I know how big the challenge ahead is for our state, but I love New South Wales and that is the passion that will fuel me and fuel my team. A stable united government is vital to getting on with the work that we’ve begun, so there’ll be no cabinet reshuffle until we are through this challenge. Our team will bring the energy, the experience to get our state safely open again and then take it to the next level. We live in the best state in the best country in the world and together we will make it even better.
Dominic Perrottet
It’s great that Dominic Perrottet is devoted to the state but that’s a given. He said their won’t be cabinet reshuffle until “we are through this challenge”. I assume he means opening up and that means that he’ll likely have his first properly ministry late this year or early next year. Though, to be pedantic, there are cabinet changes because Gladys Berejiklian and other ministers are gone but we get his point that all ministers would retain their portfolios from the previous (Second Berejiklian) ministry except for where there were resignations and role changes as a result of the new leadership.
He with lead the reopening of NSW but the key phrase is “and then take it to the next level”. That’s the key part. He needs to deliver on that next level. What is it? I’m no political expert but he has three ways to take it to the next level that involve reforming Gladys Berejiklian’ reopening plan; none of which change the only fully vaccinated opening at 70% double dose on Monday 11th October 2021. Maybe the next level is just the final stage of the plan which involves less restrictions for all people, not just the vaccinated and then remove of all restrictions but I hope the next level is his own decision and that’s what I’ll talk about now.
Option 1- Move Equal Restrictions Forward
Option one is to move the 1 December restrictions forward to 1 November or whenever NSW hits 90% fully vaccinated. These restrictions are light and there are no limits for people in almost places including homes but a one person to 2 square metres rule will still apply and masks with still be mandatory for indoor front-of-house hospitality staff and for public and air transportation. So, it’s really just like a few months ago pre-Delta but not proper freedom. Anyway, he could bring that date a month earlier. It means that businesses can return to closer to normal functions sooner; especially ones that will hold out until all of NSW gets equal opportunities.
Also, the Federal Government funding for businesses is being cut at 80% full-vaccination and so that’s further incentive to fully open earlier. It also means that those unvaccinated from COVID-19 won’t have to wait that long to have more freedom and specifically a haircut. If you’re worried about vaccination rates, don’t be. Almost 90% of over 16s have has at least a dose and leader of Australia’s vaccine taskforce Lieutenant General John Frewen said, “it’s also conceivable we could get to 90 per cent around the end of November, start of December”. It’s unclear from the context if he means just NSW or the entire nation but if it’s the entire nation, NSW will be at 90% sooner than December. So, a moving of the dates in justified.
Option 2- December With No Restrictions
Option two is to change what happens on 1 December and replace a low restrictions with none. It’s more likely than the first option since it’s a fair decision when 90% of the state has had two doses but there’s a ‘but’. It’s only likely if you include a sub option and that’s just to remove more of the restrictions but keep some. It’s fairer to do and it doesn’t alter the plan dramatically.
Option 2- 80% Vaccination Stage But Equal Freedoms
Option three is the unlikeliest and that is to make the 80% restrictions (though the government likes to call them freedoms) but open to all. There are too many rules to go over for this stage of the plan but I don’t need to go over them to say that there’s more things to do at 80% than 70%. Since just a week after the 70% rules kick in, the 80% rules could come into place or if not just another week after that and that’s under two weeks or three at the maximum, the potential to change this phase of the plan makes it unlikely.
As a note, potentially why are there less restrictions at 80% just a week after 70%? It really seems so arbitrary and it’s a strain on businesses to have to follow everything. Also, who says NSW can’t get 90% a week after 80% or maybe a few weeks if we want to be conservative? This adds to the first option, opening almost fully before December since we can see that 90% will be before December. So, there’s another point to open up to all at 80%. Unfortunately because the 80% will come soon, it’s unlikely to occur.
Option 4- Combination
Option four is a combination of one and two. It’s actually more plausible than three simply because it gives time for Dominic Perrottet to plan what he wants to do and explain why it’s the best option. However, scrapping restrictions entirely or by some plus bringing it earlier will upset the mainstream media, the hysterical NSW Health and the only-vax crowd.
The main issue is the crowd, alongside the general public, probably includes those in his own party and it would be difficult to go against them let alone the plan of the former premier. He is a man of deep convictions, though and he will go a long way to proving it by showing it here and now.
The Questions
Now let’s look at what he said in relation to journalists’ questions.
On COVID-19 Roadmap (Plan)
What I commit to doing is this afternoon after the swearing-in, I will be sitting down with Minister Hazzard and the health team alongside Minister Ayres and members of the crisis cabinet to have a discussion in relation to the roadmap. But obviously this is early days and we have done so well and my intention at this stage is that that day [for the lifting of some restrictions on 11 October for the fully vaccinated] will remain on Monday for next week, but there are a number of issues that need to be looked at.
Dominic Perrottet
This is a clear indication that he is thinking of changing something. He says “issues” and not topics; plus the fact that they “need to be looked at”. There wouldn’t be any issues if Gladys Berejiklian had her plan right and we know it is far from right.
Obviously, health is our number one priority right now. We will obviously look at the roadmap. We are committed to it, both Minister [Stuart] Ayres and myself played an important role in developing that with the [former] Premier and the [former] Deputy Premier but we will work through those issues over the course of the day.
Dominic Perrottet
Health is certainly the right first priority but he understands that it isn’t the only issue. He stated that he and his new deputy leader, Minister Stuart Ayres, had a role in developing the reopening plan; though they all prefer the term “roadmap”. He didn’t, however, say that he agreed with everything. As he sort of acknowledged, both the then Premier Gladys Berejiklian and then Deputy Premier John Barilaro largely made the plan. It’s also inferred that both are out of the picture now since Dominic Perrottet is Premier now (because Gladys Berejiklian resigned) and the Nationals Leader, who was the Deputy Premier, has resigned. So, now he can work through the issues as he said.
On His Faith
My religious views and my Christian faith is something I am incredibly proud of as many people across our state are. That is something that is personal to me and personal to many people and I think that is incredibly important.
Dominic Perrottet
Those are great few sentences. He stands up for what he believes and he shows it. That’s a leader.
We live in a very diverse society, I think some of the criticism in relation to that diversity has been unfounded and I am proud to live and I love our state and I love the diversity and the multicultural backgrounds and the religious backgrounds. Diversity should be celebrated, it should not be criticised. People should judge people on who they are and what they say, not based on some religious element, and I am very proud of the fact that I have a strong Christian faith. Does that in any way take away my capacity to serve as Premier? Well, I don’t think so and I think it is a sad thing that some people do.
Dominic Perrottet
I disagree with the multiculturalism that he espouses but he is raising a good point to the Left and the mainstream media in this section. They all seem to love diversity except for when that involves Christians and conservatives. It just points out their hypocrisy that they slam him for having a Christian faith and dare I say tradition view on life and marriage.
But I think in the main, people right across our state believe in freedom of religion and freedom of the opportunity to serve in public life regardless of what your ethnic background is or what your religious values are.
Dominic Perrottet
That used to be true but I don’t think the general public does now. They’ve happily taken the vaccines and the restrictions that have come along.
For his part, he said in September that, “the draconian restrictions we have almost grown used to are extreme tools of last resort, justifiable only because they are necessary to protect lives from a ruthlessly efficient and deadly virus”. He’s agrees that they’re draconian but then says that they’re necessary, which is a paradox since the definition of draconian is that the rules are going “further than what is right or necessary”.
It could be easy to pick him apart for this paradox and having a go each way but I think he’s just meaning the tough part of draconian and not the excessive part. Despite this, he’s a smart bloke and I’m sure he knows that it’s contradictory. At the time, he was deputy to Gladys Berejiklian and part of a government that put these restrictions in place and it’s understandable why he said necessary because he wanted to be in line with the government and keep his job. Perhaps, he can be excused too because he acknowledges his views are tainted by being in the government bubble; “it rings a bit hollow when politicians like me, public servants and others with secure pay cheques say “we’re all in this together””.
On Balancing Work & Family
Well, it is demanding. I mean being a father, like being a mother, when you have got family commitments balancing work and family life is a challenge for every single person right across the state. Ultimately, I think what I might lose in time, I gain in perspective and everyone has their attributes, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses and I am no different to that.
Dominic Perrottet
That’s true. He can do both. This question wouldn’t be asked of a woman because classical feminism says that they can do both.
But one thing I do know is that I have a very strong team around me, I have a strong family and I have a strong ministerial team who will ensure that our focus is on the people of New South Wales and that we come out stronger the other side. We’re going to take our state from good to great. Yes, I have family commitments, but that should not disqualify one from the job. I think it enriches you, it gives you different perspective and with all the different ministers in the team, I think we set ourselves up to make a real difference to the people of our state.
Dominic Perrottet
He’s spot on. He knows the impact of decisions on families. What did Gladys Berejiklian know about children when it came to education and transportation for them? Sure, you don’t have to ‘be one to know one’ but it certainly helps.
The opportunity and the privilege to serve the people of the state is enormous. If I didn’t believe that I could make the difference to improve the lives of every person in this state then I wouldn’t standing up here today.
Dominic Perrottet
It’s another given but unfortunately you have to spell it out to the media. They seem hellbent on destroying him as Premier from the get-go.
They are decisions that you contemplate, you speak to your family about. Yeah, there will be challenges I know with that, and perhaps disappointments of things that… of family events and time that I may not have but that will drive me even more to make sure that every single hour of my day when I am at work is dedicated to the improvement of the lives of every person across the state.
Dominic Perrottet
He knows that it’s important to discuss big decisions with his family. He also knows the cost. You can hear from his words that he knows the costs of being Premier. To the everyday Aussie, Gladys Berejiklian going was a shock but she was threatened last year when she first appeared at ICAC and it was a ticking timebomb. Whether Dominic Perrottet knew of Gladys Berejiklian’s impending demise before this week is unknown but even if he did, this was still a tough choice for him.
His faith, family and constituents will drive him. These are good words and if he backs them up with actions then he will be a principled leader and show the way for other leaders who seek to demean the populace.
On Students Returning To School
I have just been appointed and I haven’t even been sworn in yet — in terms of making policy decisions in relation to that. Obviously, we have had significant debates. I, like every parent across the state, wants their kids back in school as quickly as possible, so I can tell the people of New South Wales today I am committed to doing that. We have a roadmap, at this stage that roadmap is in place and I will work through those details. I have a meeting with Stuart [Ayres] and Brad [Hazzard] and the health team this afternoon and we will have a discussion around those issues and obviously if there were to be any changes, which I do not want to pre-empt because we have not considered it, the Education Minister would need to provide advice on it.
Dominic Perrottet
That’s fair enough. School was already brough forward another week just a few days ago. He also let on that “we have had significant debates”. Who that “we” is up for debate, pardon the pun but it’s implied that there were obviously different views in the ‘Crisis Cabinet’; a smaller group of important NSW ministers and the Premier. I guess he’s certainly in favour on them returning soon but whether he can move that date again is unlikely.
Conclusion
So, that’s Dominic Perrottet. If he delivers his words, he’ll be a great premier.
Sources (In order of use)
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-05/premier-elect-dominic-perrottet-first-public-speech/100514154
https://twitter.com/13orangesbc/status/1443860140806098950
http://reparti.free.fr/schwab2020.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvGmOZ5T6_Y
https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/easing-covid-19-restrictions/opening-in-dec
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-01/nsw-premier-gladys-berejiklian-resignation-icac-explained/100507412
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-04/nsw-deputy-premier-john-barilaro-resigns/100511638
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/dominic-perrottet-prosperity-and-opportunity-a-distinct-possibility/news-story/27295c96748c5c4423e6adba2bb5f521
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/draconian
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-12/nsw-premier-gladys-berejiklian-to-continue-role-after-icac/12758234
The Gospel Freedom 
One thought on “Premier Dominic Perrottet; Good for NSW?”