Labor reclaims NSW after 12 years as Perrottet steps down

New South Wales has elected a Labor government for the first time in 12 years, ending the Coalition's grip on power with a decisive mandate that reshapes the political landscape across the state.

The result unfolded on Saturday evening as counting progressed, with Sky News calling the race just two hours into the count. By that point, Labor had already secured 47 seats with half the ballots tallied—enough to project a majority government. Dominic Perrottet conceded defeat to Chris Minns shortly after 9pm, acknowledging Labor's victory at the state Liberal headquarters.

The scale of the Coalition's loss became clear as the night progressed. The party shed 19 seats, with predictions suggesting their final tally could fall to 31 electorates once counting resumed Monday. Labor's gains painted a map of suburban discontent: Riverstone, Leppington, South Coast, Heathcote and East Hills all swung from blue to red. The pivotal Parramatta electorate fell, and even Stuart Ayres, a sitting Liberal member, was poised to lose his Penrith seat to the Labor tide.

Speaking to Liberal Party members at campaign headquarters, Perrottet accepted responsibility for the defeat. "As leader of the parliamentary Liberal Party, I take full responsibility for the loss this evening, and as a result I will be standing down," he said in an emotional address. The 40-year-old premier, who had taken the leadership in October 2021 following Gladys Berejiklian's resignation, acknowledged that his party needed a "fresh start."

Yet Perrottet's concession remarks were notably gracious. He praised Minns for conducting what he called a "race to the top"—a genuine battle of ideas rather than a descent into personal attacks. "Elections can get ugly," Perrottet reflected, "but I believe this one truly was a race to the top." He urged New South Wales to unite behind the incoming government, insisting that Minns would lead "with the same decency and integrity" required of a premier.

Minns, accepting his victory, made a parallel call for unity. Standing beside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese—who had introduced him as a leader of "vision, compassion and integrity"—Minns acknowledged both supporters and those who voted differently. "We will govern for everyone in NSW," he said, promising to prioritise frontline workers in hospitals, schools and emergency services. The respect between the two leaders was evident; Minns praised Perrottet for maintaining civility throughout the campaign. "Neither party took the low road," he said, framing the election as a model of what political discourse could be.

Labor's victory marks a generational shift. The party last held power under Morris Iemma in 2007, more than a decade ago. Minns will become the 47th Premier, tasked with addressing challenges the state faces over the coming four years. Perrottet, stepping back from the leadership, leaves behind a coalition fractured and rebuilding—while Minns inherits a mandate to reshape NSW governance and demonstrate that Labor's time in opposition has prepared them for the task ahead.