Labor reclaims NSW after 12 years; Perrottet stands down

Labor has reclaimed control of New South Wales after spending 12 years in opposition, with Chris Minns set to become the 47th Premier following a decisive defeat for the Coalition government.

The scale of the loss prompted outgoing Premier Dominic Perrottet to resign as Liberal leader within hours of the result. Speaking to supporters at Liberal Party headquarters, the 40-year-old took responsibility for the defeat and declared the party needed fresh direction.

The magnitude of the swing became clear as counting progressed through the evening. With half the votes tallied, Labor had already secured 47 seats, with electoral analysts projecting a likely final total around 50. The Coalition suffered heavily, losing 19 seats with forecasts suggesting they would retain roughly 31 electorates. Key Labor victories included the capture of previously safe Liberal strongholds: Riverstone, Leppington, South Coast, Heathcote, East Hills and Parramatta. Former Liberal MP Stuart Ayres also faced defeat in Penrith.

Sky News declared Labor the winner at 8:04pm—just over two hours after counting began. Perrottet conceded to Minns approximately an hour later, effectively ending more than a decade of Coalition rule in NSW.

Speaking to victory celebrations, Minns praised the civility of the election campaign. Both parties had conducted themselves with dignity and respect, he said, offering a model for political contests to follow. He extended thanks to Perrottet for maintaining the respectful tone—recognition that the outgoing premier warmly reciprocated.

Perrottet acknowledged Minns' leadership during the campaign, noting that their contest had exemplified politics at its best—a genuine clash of ideas rather than personal attacks.

Perrottet had assumed the premiership in October 2021, replacing Gladys Berejiklian after she resigned following an Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation. At 39, he became NSW's youngest premier. Before reaching that office, he worked as a commercial lawyer and represented the Castle Hill electorate since 2011. He won the Liberal leadership ballot decisively, defeating fellow MP Rob Stokes.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appeared at Minns' victory event, publicly endorsing the new Premier as a leader of integrity and vision. Minns, in his acceptance remarks, pledged to serve all voters across NSW and to support the frontline workers who sustained the state through the pandemic.

The victory marks a watershed moment in NSW politics and opens a new chapter under Labor governance after more than a decade of Coalition administration.