Gladys Berejiklian Reckons She’s The First Female NSW Premier “Elected By Merit”

The NSW state election is coming in fast on March 23 — that’s next Saturday — and in an attempt to get on top of that minor ‘I hate fun’ image problem and sliding public polls, Gladys Berejiklian’s team has released a six-minute Facebook video profiling the incumbent premier as a fun, honest person.

It’s up to you whether you think pictures of a 21-year-old Berejiklian dressed as Wonder Woman or stories that she doesn’t swear and is always on time are particularly endearing, but it’s the video’s caption that has caught our attention.

In the video’s description, the NSW Liberal Party have claimed Berejikian is “the first female Premier of NSW — chosen on merit”, which, beyond being a confusing use of an em dash, isn’t true on either account. As plenty of comments point out, Kristina Keneally was the first female NSW Premier, holding the role from 2009 to 2011.

“This is just unnecessarily rude,” reads one. “You might not agree with Kristina Keneally’s politics but please don’t diminish her achievement at becoming the first female NSW premier.”

Then there’s the second part of that qualifier, “chosen on merit”. It’s unclear what this is specifically referencing. It seems to be a dig on Keneally never winning an election, but, as plenty of comments point out, neither was Berejiklian.

Both came into their roles while their respective parties were already in government: Keneally replaced ousted Labor Premier Nathan Rees and Berejiklian stepped in when Premier Mike Baird resigned in 2017. Which makes the ‘chosen on merit’ section even more egregious: while Keneally won two internal party votes (albeit due to factional string-pulling) to become Premier, Berejiklian took the job uncontested.

Admittedly, ‘merit’ is a loose metric here, so Junkee has reached out to the Premier and the NSW Liberals for clarification, and will update with a statement if we receive one.

UPDATE: The NSW Liberal Party was provided Junkee with a statement.  “From winning preselection for Willoughby in 2003, rising the ranks to become Treasurer and now Premier, Gladys Berejiklian has been elected by her peers at each and every step of the way based solely on merit.”

Sure, the claim’s misleading at best and ahistorical at worst, but hey, at least we learn that Berejiklian’s “a hard worker” who can have a laugh with the people filming her campaign video, right?