Newly-elected NSW Labor leader Michael Daley has begun pitching himself as the next premier, with his first public comments as opposition leader addressing voters ahead of the March election.
The Maroubra MP was promoted to the top position on Saturday afternoon, receiving 33 of 45 votes in a caucus meeting, after Luke Foley resigned amid sexual harassment allegations.
Mr Daley beat out contender Chris Minns, who claimed 12 votes, while Penny Sharpe was the only nominee for deputy leader and was picked to replace Mr Daley, who previously held the deputy position.
In a press conference after his victory, Mr Daley said he planned to win the next state election and it was an honour to be chosen to lead the NSW Labor party.
"I am not here to save the furniture. We are here to win the 2019 election. And that is what we will do for the people who rely so heavily on us," he said.
"The Labor Party stands today as a united team, ready to govern, we are full of fighting spirit, we are hungry, we will win the election in March 2019."
Mr Daley said his policy priorities would be reducing road tolls in western Sydney, driving down energy bills through the growth of renewable energy, providing jobs to the suburbs and regions of NSW, and making Sydney more livable.
He also promised to fight the government's "wasteful" investment in stadiums and divert funds to TAFE, schools and hospitals.
The leadership change comes four months ahead of the next state election.
Mr Foley resigned on Thursday after ABC journalist Ashleigh Raper issued a statement alleging he put his hand through the back of her dress and groped her at a 2016 Christmas party.
He has denied the allegation but said he won't seek re-election to parliament.
Mr Daley on Friday emerged as the frontrunner to replace Mr Foley but within hours 39-year-old Chris Minns, Labor Member for Kogarah and party spokesman on water, also threw his hat in the ring.
After the vote Mr Minns was asked by journalists if he was disappointed at the result.
"I'm a realist. It's a great day for Michael and I know he's going to be the next premier of NSW - I'm convinced of that and I'm genuinely looking forward to being part of this team," he said.
Mr Daley, who grew up on a dairy farm on the north coast, has already made a pitch to "forgotten" regional voters, saying he would deliver a fairer deal as they had been left behind by a Sydney-centric Liberal government.
The Labor leader said he was from the suburbs where he had seen the struggles ordinary people went through and where he had forged his admiration for working people.
"My first job as an 11 or 12-year-old was delivering newspapers in South Maroubra through the housing estates."
Mr Daley said he worked for Customs and put himself through law at night.
"I worked for 20 years before I came to this place. I was driven to enter public life to make life better to those people that I grew up with and pursue policies that would improve their lives."
Australian Associated Press
