NSW Premier Archives

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian

By state political reporter Brigid Glanville,

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has broken ranks with her ethnic church and declared she will be voting “Yes” in the same-sex marriage postal survey.

Speaking at an event in Sydney, Ms Berejiklian described same-sex marriage as a “no brainer” and one of the most important human rights issues of our time.

The position has put her at odds with her Armenian Apostolic Church, which claims same-sex marriage would pave the way for “radical gay sex education programs” to be taught in schools.

Ms Berejiklian, who was born in Australia to Armenian immigrants, is a regular attender of church events and has been to several this year.

In a Facebook post this week, the Armenian Apostolic Church of Holy Resurrection in Chatswood — where Ms Berejiklain’s parents were married — warned followers their faith was “under fire” in the survey.

It said redefining marriage would have “consequences” for religious freedom, free speech and children’s education.

During her speech at the “Parliament Says Yes” event, Ms Berejiklian said she was crossing her fingers the survey returns a “Yes” vote.

“There is no doubt that there are people out there in the community with conservative views, there are people out there with different religious beliefs and faiths,” she said.

“We respect all of that, especially with someone like myself with my own personal background.”

Church ‘has nothing against gays and lesbians’

Nishan Basmajian, the executive officer of Australia and New Zealand Diocese of the Armenian Church, said his organisation respected gay people.

“We are against same-sex marriage,” he said.

“We have nothing against gays and lesbians, nothing at all.

“Through our Christian values and Christian education we don’t see those values are respected [in same-sex marriage].”

Mr Basmajian said the church did not “mix too much” with politics.

“I don’t know what the Premier thinks but as a church we adhere to our Christian values,” he said.

Ms Berejiklian said voting for same-sex marriage was a simple decision for her.

“I’m hoping that all of us will look back and feel incredibly proud that we were part of something special,” she said.

“That we put aside all of our different political views and came together in supporting our colleagues, in supporting our community, in supporting what is one of the most important decisions of our time, I believe, in terms of human rights.”

Same-sex marriage survey forms are being distributed to Australians, with final results from the survey to be announced in November.

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-19/gladys-berejiklian/8961834

ABC – New South Wales Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian confirms she will stand for the state’s top job, as outgoing Premier Mike Baird says: “I haven’t backed anyone”.

Mike Baird announced his resignation, citing the need to support his family.

A partyroom meeting is planned for Monday and a leadership spill is expected to happen on Tuesday, but it is unlikely there will be a ballot, as the ABC has been told the leadership positions will be decided by the partyroom earlier.

On ABC News, Mr Baird said he had not backed anyone.

“Gladys Berejiklian would be outstanding, no doubt about it,” he said.

“There is an incredible, talented group of ministers, many have huge potential both short-term and long-term.”

In a statement confirming she would run for the top job, Ms Berejiklian said she was “deeply saddened” by Mr Baird’s decision to retire.

“Mike has been an inspiring leader and a man of enormous integrity who has left an outstanding and indelible mark on the state of NSW,” she said.

“Today is Mike’s day — but I would like to make it clear that I will be standing for the leadership.”

It is likely that Dominic Perrottet will be the deputy leader of the NSW Liberal Party.

The ABC understands Transport Minister Andrew Constance is also considering running.

While it was expected that Planning Minister Rob Stokes would also run for the leadership, he has since confirmed he will bow out of the race.

These are the likely frontrunners who may contest the leadership positions:

Treasurer and the Deputy Leader of the NSW Liberal Party, Ms Berejiklian is considered the frontrunner to be the next Premier.

Ms Berejiklian is part of the Liberal Party’s moderate faction and was elected unopposed as Mr Baird’s Liberal deputy in April 2014.

The 46-year-old former Commonwealth Bank executive was elected the Member for Willoughby, on Sydney’s lower north shore, in 2003.

She was appointed transport minister after Barry O’Farrell led the Coalition to a landslide win in 2011, a position she held until Mike Baird appointed her Treasurer after the 2015 election.

She is NSW’s first female Treasurer.

In October 2016, Ms Berejiklian declared the state debt free with a final surplus for the 2015-16 financial year of $4.7 billion.

Labor attributed the debt-free status to the sale of infrastructure assets including the partial sale of Ausgrid, but the Government pointed to investment in other projects such as Sydney’s WestConnex and the light rail.

Ms Berejiklian is the daughter of Armenian migrants and a granddaughter of victims of the 1915 Armenian genocide.