The NSW gaming and racing minister, David Harris, will retire at the March state election, becoming the first of Premier Chris Minns' frontbenchers to quit before the March 13 poll and leaving Labor to defend his Central Coast seat of Wyong against a likely significant One Nation challenge.
In a statement released early on Friday morning, Harris confirmed he would retire after 16 years as an MP and said he would continue in his current ministerial roles until the poll. He holds the gaming and racing, veterans, and Aboriginal affairs and treaty portfolios.
Labor had delayed opening preselection in Wyong while Harris weighed up his options. NSW Labor is treating the state election as a fight against right-wing populist party One Nation rather than the Coalition.
"Before entering the NSW parliament I spent 23 years in public education as a teacher, executive and principal, working to shape the futures of local children," Harris said. "I hope the next Labor candidate shares my passion for education as I have found that is the lifeblood of our community." He thanked Minns for his support while navigating "challenging yet essential reforms" and said they had tackled "controversial issues."
The state government faced a revolt from rank-and-file party members over pokies reform, with Harris ultimately backing a motion at this year's state conference to push the party into a stronger stance against poker machines. The government is not bound to motions passed at the conference and has not implemented the reforms.
NSW Labor officials have warned MPs, in closed-door briefings, of a worst-case scenario in which the party could lose more than a dozen seats. MPs have also been warned it is possible Labor could lose seats in the Hunter, Central Coast, south-west Sydney and southern NSW. Regional MPs have said they expect One Nation, rather than the Liberals or Nationals, to be their main competition.
On the Coalition side, Liberal leader Kellie Sloane has also lost MPs before March. Senior frontbenchers James Griffin and Alister Henskens have both announced they will not recontest their seats of Manly and Wahroonga, Kellyville MP Ray Williams has announced his political retirement, and Badgerys Creek MP Tanya Davies has resigned.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Harris is the first frontbencher to leave Minns' cabinet before the March 13 election, an early signal of Labor's vulnerability as officials warn of a possible worst-case loss of more than a dozen seats.
- Wyong, on the Central Coast, is expected to face a significant One Nation challenge, and Labor had delayed preselection there while Harris weighed retirement, making the seat a test of its regional defence.
- The retirement comes as Labor faces internal pressure over pokies reform, which Harris backed at this year's state conference but which the government has not implemented.
Background
NSW Labor is heading into a March 13 state election it expects to defend less against the traditional Liberal-National Coalition than against One Nation, according to party officials and regional MPs. Harris held cabinet posts covering gaming and racing, veterans, and Aboriginal affairs and treaty, and spent 23 years in public education before entering parliament.
Key Perspectives
David Harris: Will retire after 16 years as an MP and serve out his ministerial roles until the March 13 poll, saying he hopes "the next Labor candidate shares my passion for education."
NSW Labor officials: In closed-door briefings have warned MPs of a worst-case scenario in which the party could lose more than a dozen seats, including in the Hunter, Central Coast, south-west Sydney and southern NSW.
Regional Labor MPs: Expect One Nation, rather than the Liberals or Nationals, to be their main competition.
What to Watch
- Preselection in Wyong, which Labor had delayed while Harris weighed his options, must now open to find his successor.
- Whether more Minns frontbenchers, or Coalition MPs on the other side, announce retirements before March.
- Whether the government moves on the pokies reform motions passed at this year's state conference, which it is not bound to implement.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedDavid Harris will retire at the March state election.The Age - Latest News: “The state’s racing minister David Harris will retire at the next election in March”
- SupportedHarris is the first of Chris Minns’ frontbenchers to quit before the March election.The Age - Latest News: “Harris’ retirement makes him the first of Minns’ frontbenchers to quit politics before the March state election”
- SupportedLabor faces a likely significant One Nation challenge for Harris’ Wyong seat.The Age - Latest News: “leaving NSW Labor with a fight to retain his Central Coast seat against a likely significant challenge from One Nation. Labor had delayed opening preselection in the seat of Wyong”
- SupportedNSW Labor officials warned MPs that, in a worst-case scenario, the party could lose more than a dozen seats.The Age - Latest News: “NSW Labor officials have warned MPs of a worst-case scenario in which the party could lose more than a dozen seats”
- SupportedHarris said he spent 23 years in public education before entering NSW Parliament.The Age - Latest News: ““Before entering the NSW parliament I spent 23 years in public education as a teacher, executive and principal, working to shape the futures of local children,” Harris said.”
- SupportedHarris said he hoped the next Labor candidate would share his passion for education.The Age - Latest News: ““I hope the next Labor candidate shares my passion for education as I have found that is the lifeblood of our community.””
- SupportedHarris said he would retire after 16 years as an MP.The Age - Latest News: “In a statement early on Friday morning, Harris confirmed he would retire after 16 years as an MP.”
- SupportedHarris said he would continue in his current ministerial roles until the March 13 poll.The Age - Latest News: “The minister said he would continue in his current ministerial roles until the March 13 poll.”
- SupportedHarris holds the gaming and racing, veterans, and Aboriginal affairs and treaty portfolios.The Age - Latest News: “Harris currently holds the gaming and racing, veterans and Aboriginal affairs and treaty portfolios.”
- SupportedLabor had delayed opening preselection in Wyong while Harris weighed up his options.The Age - Latest News: “Labor had delayed opening preselection in the seat of Wyong as Harris weighed up his options.”
- SupportedNSW Labor is treating the election as a fight against One Nation rather than the Coalition.The Age - Latest News: “NSW Labor is treating as a fight against right-wing populist party One Nation rather than the Coalition.”
- SupportedRegional MPs said they expect One Nation, rather than the Liberals or Nationals, to be their main competition.The Age - Latest News: “Regional MPs have said they expect One Nation, rather than the Liberals or Nationals, to be their main competition.”