Thanks but no thanks: Gladys rejects PM’s offer of federal seat
Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian will not contest the federal seat of Warringah at the next election.
While there was speculation Berejiklian could run at next year’s poll, she told Sydney radio 2GB her next career move would not be in the political sphere.
“I won’t be contesting the federal seat of Warringah, or any other federal seat for that matter,” she said on Friday.
“I’m really looking forward to the next chapter, it won’t be in public life, it will be in the private sector.”
Berejiklian stood down as premier in October after the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption said she was being investigated.
Multiple federal MPs, including Prime Minister Scott Morrison, had urged Berejiklian to run for the Sydney-based seat held by Independent Zali Steggall.
The former premier said she was grateful to Morrison for the encouragement to enter federal politics.
“It wasn’t something that I intended to do, but out of respect for those people, I gave it some thought but decided against it,” Berejiklian said.
“They urged me to give it consideration, I promised them I would, and I did for a very short period of time.”
Morrison told reporters in Sydney he wished Berejiklian all the best for the new chapter of her life.
Stay informed, daily
“Gladys Berejiklian blazed a trail for women in the Liberal Party, she’s off to blaze a new trail now,” he said.
Berejiklian thanked everyone for the support she received following her resignation as premier.
She has written to the speaker of NSW parliament, indicating she will formally resign as a state MP on December 30.
