Dominic Perrottet's manifesto: Gladys Berejiklian's replacement outlines plans

Dominic Perrottet has outlined his priorities as he prepares to formally take over from Gladys Berejiklian as NSW Premier. 

The Catholic father of six and former Treasurer landed the top job in a Liberal Party meeting on Tuesday after Ms Berejiklian resigned facing a corruption investigation.

In his first press conference as Premier-elect, Mr Perrottet said he will take the state 'from good to great' and focus on 'keeping people safe, opening up the economy and securing our recovery' after the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Here's what we know so far about Mr Perrottet's vision for the state.  

Freedom Day 

Mr Perrottet said Sydney's lockdown will end as planned on Monday despite speculation he could move 'freedom day' forward to Friday. 

'On Monday, the state opens up and we want to get people back into work, get business open again, and that is the focus of our government today,' he said.  

But the Premier-elect - who has long argued for lighter restrictions - said the re-opening plan may be tweaked because 'there are a number of issues that need to be looked at.' 

He was due to meet with Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant and Brad Hazzard on Tuesday afternoon. 

In an interview with Daily Mail Australia last month Mr Perrottet said he expected nightclubs to open at the 80 per cent vaccination rate - but under current plans they are closed until December 1. 

He may also decide to bring forward the re-opening date of indoor pools which was pushed back from October 11 to December 1, causing outrage from concerned parents who say swimming lessons are essential. 

Future lockdowns 

Asked if NSW will ever need shutdowns again to stop Covid-19 spreading, Mr Perrottet said: 'I don't want to go back into lockdown. 

'From time to time, there may be the need for targeted restrictions. But ultimately, we've got to learn to live alongside this virus, and vaccination has been the key to doing it.' 

He later told Sky News Australia: 'We've got to learn to live with the virus it's not going away. 

'I want to be premier of a state that is open and free. It's not for the government to provide those freedoms. It's in our innate nature.'

Mr Perrottet said Covid cases will go up when lockdown is lifted but said 'low cases are not the only point of success'. 

He warned there are other factors to consider including mental health and children's education. 

Vaccine passports 

Mr Perrottet has previously argued for unvaccinated residents to be granted equal freedoms once everyone has been offered a jab.

'Once every single person in this state has had the opportunity to be vaccinated with two doses then we should open up for everyone,' he told 2GB last month. 

'I want to see more unity and not have a two-tiered society here.'  

According to the roadmap, unvaccinated people will be able to go to pubs and restaurants on December 1. 

Schools 

Mr Perrottet said he has not yet considered whether to move the re-opening of schools forward from October 18.

'I have just been appointed and I have not even been sworn in yet - in terms of making policy decisions in relation to that,' he said.

'Obviously, we have had significant debates. I, like every parent across the state, want the 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.'  

Travel 

Mr Perrottet also wants to restart international travel, with tourists expected to enter Australia next year.

'We're talking about returning international students, we're talking about returning Australians. We're opening up businesses and the next step is opening up borders,' he told Daily Mail Australia last month.

'If we can lead the way on international travel that's going to be a great thing for the state. 

'And hopefully that will then lead to other states following us. It might be ironic that you can get to Bali before you can get to Broome but that's where we're heading.'

Mr Perrottet said other states who are nervous about opening up state borders will be eventually pushed into action by their voters who will want to travel once more.  

Families 

Following today's vote Mr Perrottet said he would be a 'family premier' who wants to 'make life better for working families.' 

'Up until now, all of our Liberal premiers have been infrastructure premiers, building roads, rail, schools and hospitals for communities right across our state, and that will not change with me,' he said.

'But I will also be a family Premier, focusing on how we can make life better for working families, living the Liberal values of opportunity, aspiration and hard work.' 

'The true strength of New South Wales is its people, our tradies, our working mums and dads, business owners, frontline workers, teachers, workers, doctors, paramedics, firefighters, police. Our state is a rich history with a rich tapestry.' 

He later said having a family 'enriches you' and 'gives you different perspective.' Former Premier Ms Berejiklian does not have children. 

Housing affordability 

With Sydney house prices up 20 per cent in the past year, Mr Perrottet is worried that too many young people won't be able to buy a home. 

Mr Perrottet has advocated scrapping stamp duty - a tax paid when a property is sold - in favour of an annual land tax.

'We are facing a challenge when it comes to generational equity where many young people today cannot get the keys to their very first home, and we have a duty to ensure that generations that come after us have greater opportunity and prosperity than we have, and, in order to do that, reform is key,' he said on Tuesday.

'Reform is crucial. It is tough, and it is very rarely achieved in a bipartisan way because the political advantage is too tough, but I am here to do what is right, to serve our people.

'Ultimately, you only reform and take on those challenges in circumstances where you are improving the lives of people across our state and that is the end goal,' he said.  

Religion 

Mr Perrottet is a devout Catholic who voted against the decriminalisation of abortion in 2019 and will argue against voluntary assisted dying in an expected vote later this month. 

He has been described as NSW's most conservative premier since WWII but said his religious beliefs do not make him less qualified for the job.

'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 too many people, and I think that is incredibly important,' he said. 

Mr Perrottet

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