‘Ashamed’: NSW premier Dominic Perrottet reveals he wore a Nazi uniform at his 21st birthday

The New South Wales premier, Dominic Perrottet, has revealed he wore a Nazi uniform at his 21st birthday party, apologising for what he described as a “deeply hurtful” act.

Flanked by his treasurer, Matt Kean, Perrottet fought back tears as he revealed that he had worn the outfit more than 19 years ago, describing it as a “terrible mistake” which had “personally anguished” him for most of his life.

The shocking revelation – which comes just three months before the state election – came after Perrottet received a phone call from a cabinet colleague who mentioned it two days ago.

Although he insisted the decision to reveal the information had not been made due to any threat to release the photo, rumours of a photo damaging to the premier had been circulating in recent days.

“I have grappled with this, it’s something that has personally anguished me,” Perrottet said.

“I needed this truth about this terrible mistake that I made needed to be told by me not by someone else.”

Labelling it “stupid”, Perrottet said the act had caused him “much anxiety” over the course of his life and that he had considered revealing the information sooner.

“Maybe I should have,” he said on Thursday.

“There have been times throughout many years where I’ve thought of speaking about it and like I said, it’s been a difficult thing.

“I know how hurtful this is for so many people … it was important that I, as premier of this state, addressed this and apologised for the hurt and the pain that this is going to cause.”

He said he “was just naive and didn’t understand” the gravity of his actions at the time, and said his parents had reprimanded him for wearing the outfit the next day.

“I’m not the person I am today that I was at 21,” he said.

“Who I am today is formed by the good things I’ve done in my life, not the mistakes I’ve made.”

The revelations could prove seriously damaging to the Coalition as it seeks a fourth term in power in March. Asked on Thursday if he had the support of his colleagues, Perrottet said: “I think so”.

During the tense press conference, Kean – the treasurer and most senior moderate in the government – said he still supported Perrottet.

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“The premier’s just admitted that he made a terrible mistake a long time ago,” Kean said.

“He’s apologised to community leaders, to the Jewish community, he’s apologised to the people of NSW. The NSW government truly values its relationship with the Jewish community. This is a reminder to all of us about the atrocities that occurred and the need for us all to recommit ourselves to ensuring nothing like that ever happens again.”

The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies’ president, David Ossip, and its chief executive, Darren Bark, said they hoped the premier’s mistake would serve as a “lesson to all”.

“We appreciate that the premier personally reached out to the Jewish community this afternoon to express his deep and sincere regret about his poor choice of costume as a young man,” they said in a statement.

“This incident, no matter how old, is a reminder of the need to continually educate all Australians – and particularly our youth – about the abhorrent nature of the Nazi regime and the evil perpetrated in service of the Nazi ideology.

“We hope that this unfortunate incident will serve as a lesson to all.”

They said dressing as a Nazi was “not a joke” and “disrespects the millions of innocent civilians who were murdered during WWII”.

The pair described the premier as a “staunch supporter and friend of the NSW Jewish community”.