Former New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced he is retiring from politics.
“I love NSW,” the 41-year-old said in a statement.
“It is an absolute honour to represent the eight million people who call this great state home, especially as their 46th Prime Minister.”
The move comes just over a week after he was spotted drinking coffee just a stone’s throw from the New South Wales parliament. A Liberal Party insider said at the time that Perrottet was “just days” away from resigning.
The former Liberal Party leaders were spotted in a lively conversation at the Little Jardin Café, which is attached to the Sydney Eye Hospital, late last week.
Later that day, a senior Liberal Party source said the Epping MP had found a job in the private sector and was just days away from announcing his departure from Macquarie St.
“Dom will probably resign next week. The job is confirmed,” they said.
However, when asked, Mr Perrottet refused to confirm, deny or comment on the allegation.
Speculation about Mr Perrottet’s career has increased following the resignation of his former deputy minister and former New South Wales Finance Minister, Matt Kean.
Mr Kean ended his 13-year tenure as MP for Hornsby by saying he wanted to explore private sector opportunities in renewable energy and climate.
Former New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced he is retiring from politics.
Dominic Perrottet is pictured with his family
A few days later, he appeared alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who announced him as the new chairman of the Climate Change Authority.
The departure of Mr Kean and Mr Perrottet would trigger by-elections in the safe Liberal seats.
Mr Perrottet was first elected to State Parliament as the Member for Castle Hill in 2011, before representing the Liberal Party as the MP for Hawkesbury and then for Epping in 2019.
Before succeeding Gladys Berejiklian as Premier of New South Wales, he was the state’s treasurer and also held the finance and industrial relations portfolios.