Dominic Perrottet elected premier of Australia's NSW state

MELBOURNE

Dominic Perrottet was sworn in as the youngest premier of Australia’s New South Wales (NSW) state early Tuesday, after Gladys Berejiklian stepped down.

An election had been called within the NSW Liberal Party for the state premiership vacated with the resignation of Berejiklian, who the state’s Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (ICAC) has opened an investigation into.

On the ballot was NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes and Perrottet, who was the state’s treasury minister, as candidates for premier. Stokes received five votes while Perrottet, who received the vote of 39 deputies, was elected as the state’s 46th premier.

Perrottet held a press conference in Sydney, the capital of NSW, after winning the premiership vote.

"I know it's been a tough time. But I am fully optimistic and hopeful that the future of our state is incredibly bright," he said.

A graduate of the University of Sydney Law School and elected to the NSW parliament from the Castle Hill region in 2011, Perrottet held the posts of minister of finance and services, minister of industry and minister of treasury, respectively.

At the same time, he has achieved the title of the youngest ever elected premier in the state's history by taking office at the age of 39, also being married and having six children.

Berejiklian, who had been NSW state premier since 2017 and is known for her views against Turkey, was accused of turning a blind eye to corruption alleged to have been carried out by MP Daryl Maguire of the same party, with whom she admitted to having a special relationship.

Berejiklian resigned from her post after it was announced that she was being investigated by the ICAC for "failing to perform her public duties" during her private relationship with Maguire.

*Writing by Merve Berker