NSW Jodi McKay resigns Labor Chris Minns to replace her
Chris Minns #ChrisMinns
NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay will soon hold a press conference announcing she is resigning from the top job – despite previous pledges to dig in.
Ms McKay, who’s been opposition leader since mid-2019, is in meetings and will address the media later on Friday, where she is widely tipped to quit the leadership.
Ms McKay has previously vowed to hang on to the leadership, following the resignation of popular frontbencher Chris Minns, who is the transport spokesman and a potential leadership challenger, and the shadow treasurer, Walt Secord.
She was expected on Friday to announce a shadow ministry reshuffle – but sources say that’s unlikely to happen.
Jodi McKay has been under pressure to quit the leadership of the NSW party
Rising star, Chris Minns, is expected to be elected unopposed (above)
Mr Minns on Wednesday declared his position ‘untenable’ after a ‘dirt file’ was allegedly circulated via the office of deputy leader Yasmin Catley.
A disappointing by-election result in the Upper Hunter on Saturday has also increased the pressure on Ms McKay’s position.
But Mr Minns is yet to publicly challenge Ms McKay for the leadership, having said on Wednesday that he needed to speak with his colleagues.
Ms McKay has insisted neither she nor Ms Catley knew anything about the ‘dirt file’. The staffer who distributed it has been removed.
Since 2013, Labor party rules require 60 per cent of the caucus to vote to unseat a leader, as well as a vote by party members.
As a result, Mr Minns’ path to the leadership would be difficult unless Ms McKay resigns.
Ms McKay defeated Mr Minns for the Labor leadership after the party’s 2019 election defeat, with 29 caucus votes to Mr Minns’ 21.
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