Kristina Keneally. Credit NSW Parliament

By Rich Bowden:

Former Planning Minister Kristina Keneally is the new New South Wales premier after a dramatic leadership coup which saw former premier Nathan Rees ousted in a leadership spill.

The Ohio-raised candidate of the dominant Right faction within the NSW Labor party successfully toppled Mr Rees on Thursday night in a party room ballot 47 votes to 21 to become the first female premier of the state. In an all female leadership team, the left’s Carmel Tebbutt has agreed to stay on in the role of deputy premier in a bid to unite the party.

Early in the day a defiant Mr Rees said if he wasn’t premier at the end of the day, the new leader would be no more than a mouthpiece for right wing powerbrokers.

“Should I not be Premier at the end of this day, let there be no doubt in the community’s mind that any challenger would be a puppet of Eddie Obeid and Joe Tripodi,” he said lashing out at the men who were instrumental in installing him as premier 14 months ago.

Mr Tripodi had been demoted from the frontbench in recent weeks by Mr Rees in a bid to give the premier more control, a move which may have precipitated the leadership spill. A clearly-distraught Mr Rees gave no indication of what his political future would hold.

In a brief word to reporters as he filed last from the meeting, Mr Rees said: “I’m going to take a deep breath for a few moments if that’s alright.”

In language similar to that used by this week’s other beneficiary of a leadership coup, the new Federal Opposition leader Tony Abbott, the Nevada-born Mrs Keneally said she was “humbled” by her selection.

“I just want to thank my colleagues for the opportunity to lead and serve the people of NSW,” she said at a press conference following the rolling of Mr Rees and said she would now look to rebuild trust between the State Government and the people of NSW.

Focusing on putting NSW as the driver of the country’s economic recovery she added: “My Government will be about driving economic recovery,” she said.

“It will be about increasing jobs and prosperity for New South Wales families and it will be about putting care for the most vulnerable members of our community at the heart of what we do.”

The 40-year-old premier paid tribute to Mr Rees’ troubled 14-month term in office as premier.

“Nathan is a good local member and has been a good, faithful and hardworking servant of the party and he will have a place in my Cabinet,” she said.

She was also quick to reject suggestions that she was beholden to her mentor, the controversial Joe Tripodi, and said

Joe Tripodi (left). Credit: NSW Maritime/ flickr

he would not be returning to her new Ministry. However in a show of unity, Mrs Keneally said the time was ripe for Frank Sartor, another leadership contender from the right wing, would be welcome on the new frontbench.

“Joe Tripodi was a good and competent minister but his time as a minister has come to an end,” she said.

However NSW Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell pointed out the close links Mrs Keneally has to the dominant right faction was a bad result for the people of NSW.

“One of Joe Tripodi and Eddie Obeid’s allies has again secured the premiership of New South Wales and what we don’t know is what debts, what threats, what IOUs have been made in order to get her into the job,” he said to reporters in Sydney.

“The public deserved a say,” he said.

“This is the second time since the last election only two-and-half years ago that a new leader has been foisted on the public without any consultation – without any election.”

“The last time we had three premiers in a term saw the end of a Coalition government. I think this is bearing stark similarities.”

The new premier faces an uphill battle to restore the stocks of the bitterly-divided Labor party which has seen a regular number of scandals, resignations and low approval ratings weaken its position in the lead up to the next state election. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, speaking to reporters prior to the meeting which ousted Mr Rees, called on the NSW Labor party to “…get its act together.”

The Government will next face the voters in 2011 with most political commentators predicting a landslide win to the Liberal/National Coalition.

Tags: eddie obeid, joe tripodi, kristina keneally, leadership spill, Nathan rees, nsw labor party, nsw politics