NSW Labor names Jodi McKay, 49, as its new leader – after going THREE months without someone in control
- Jodi McKay won a hotly-contested ballot to become NSW’s opposition leader
- The Strathfield MP won 60.5 per cent of the vote to Kogarah MP Chris Minns
- Shadow treasurer Ryan Park and Julia Finn were among those backing McKay
- Rural NSW, western Sydney and multicultural communities will be her priority
Jodi McKay has won a hotly-contested ballot to become NSW’s new opposition leader on what she says is ‘a significant day in Labor’s journey back to government’.
The Strathfield MP won 60.5 per cent of the vote against Kogarah MP Chris Minns on Saturday, ending three months of doubt over who will take the helm since the state election.
She secured 29 votes to Mr Minns’ 21 in the caucus, and received 63 per cent of 10,822 rank-and-file votes.
‘I want to thank each and every member of the Labor Party who took part in this history-making process,’ Ms McKay said in a statement.
Jodi McKay has won a hotly-contested ballot to become NSW’s new opposition leader on what she says is ‘a significant day in Labor’s journey back to government’
Shadow treasurer Ryan Park (left) and Julia Finn (right) were among nearly a dozen to back Ms McKay (centre)
‘From our oldest life members to the newest of Labor recruits, to our trade union members – this contest has energised our movement.’
Mr Minns and Ms McKay, both from the party’s right faction, earlier on Saturday made their final pitches to parliamentary colleagues voting at NSW Parliament House.
Though the vote is a secret ballot, supporters of both candidates flanked the contenders as they walked into the meeting.
Shadow treasurer Ryan Park and Julia Finn were among nearly a dozen to back Ms McKay while Courtney Houssos and Walt Secord were among 13 trailing Mr Minns.
Former leader Michael Daley and interim leader Penny Sharpe were among those to walk in alone.
The meeting was not without drama, with Bankstown MP Tania Mihailuk and upper house MP Mark Buttigieg heard exchanging heated words outside the party room.
The Strathfield MP won 60.5 per cent of the vote on Saturday after NSW Labor was without a leader since the state election nearly three months ago. Pictured with Shadow Treasurer Ryan Park and Granville MP Julia Finn
Mr Minns, who ran unsuccessfully against Mr Daley for the leadership last year, congratulated Ms McKay on ‘an overwhelming result’ and said she deserved the win.
‘I’ve seen her up close over the past month and her debating skills, mastery of policy and experience are what NSW Labor needs to win,’ he said in a statement.
‘My job now is to work with her to see a Labor government in NSW in 2023 and be a loyal member of her united team.’
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet was quick to offer a backhanded message of congratulations, wishing McKay well but saying she faced an ‘impossible task’.
Kogarah MP Chris Minns congratulated Jodi McKay on ‘an overwhelming result’ and said she deserved the win
‘It was not the leader that was the Labor Party’s problem, it was its out of touch policies and values,’ he said.
During her leadership campaign, Ms McKay highlighted her ‘record of standing up to powerful and vested interests’ and says she can beat Premier Gladys Berejiklian at the 2023 poll.
She said reaching out to rural NSW, western Sydney and multicultural communities would be a priority under her leadership and education policy is a ‘critical issue’.