‘Best intentions:’ Former NSW premier Dominic Perrottet says harsh vaccine mandates were wrong in valedictory speech

The former NSW premier who oversaw the state’s exit from the Covid pandemic said it was a “mistake” for the state to implement strict vaccine mandates, stating that “people’s personal choices shouldn’t have cost them their jobs”.

Dominic Perrottet, who delivered a speech following his resignation on Tuesday, succeeded Gladys Berejiklian as the premier in October 2021, just as the state was easing restrictions following the Omicron lockdowns.

“Without dwelling on every decision, I believe it’s important to point out one mistake which was made by governments here and around the world, the strict enforcement of vaccine mandates,” he said.

While decisions were made with the “right intentions,” he said the impact on transmissions was “limited at best”.

“As is mostly now accepted, the law should have left more room and respect for freedom,” he said.

“Vaccines saved lives but ultimately mandates were wrong.

“People’s personal choices shouldn’t have cost them their jobs. When I became Premier, we removed them, or the ones we actually could, but this should have happened faster.”

Former premier Dominic Perrottet said the vaccine mandates were ‘ultimately’ wrong. Picture: NewsWire/ John Appleyard

Retiring from Macquarie St following 13 years in the legislative assembly, the former treasurer and Epping MP described himself as the “political love child” of John Howard and Paul Keating.

Speaking to a packed public gallery attended by Mr Keating himself, as well as former premier Mike Baird and Mr Perrottet’s wife Helen and his seven children: Charlotte, Amelia, Annabelle, William, Harriet, Beatrice and Celeste,

Mr Perrottet also delivered “five lessons,” urging politicians to think outside the status quo, and “getting out of the Macquarie Street bubble” when it came to policy reform.

He also urged bipartisan co-operation, warning that “good policy is suffocated by bad politics”.

Former NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet was congratulated by his state parliament colleagues following his speech. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

Listing his proudest achievements, he spoke to the Coaltion’s un-means-tested $50 Active Kids vouchers, and First Homebuyer Choice scheme which, while scrapped under Labor, it allowed buyers to choose between paying stamp duty or a land tax on homes under $1.5m.

“Originally it was just a little admin fee to get some documents stamped. Now it’s a deadweight on the Australian dream, stamping out any chance of owning a home,” he said.

“Major reform takes time, and you need to bring the public on the journey. Our approach giving first homebuyers the option to pay an annual amount was incredibly popular and began the process of normalising a new system.”

Among a length list of thank yous and acknowledgments, he also delivered a touching tribute to his wife, joking that: “being married to a politician is hard, being married to me is harder”.

Helen Perrottet was one of the members in the packed out public gallery, alongside the couple’s seven children. Picture: NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

“I have never properly appreciated or thanked you enough for the sacrifices you have made for our family and putting your own career on hold to support me in mine,” he said, with Ms Perrottet receiving a lengthy applause.

“You carried the mental load at home, whilst regularly toiling away late at night on your legal work as a major in the ADF, well after the kids were in bed, and rising well before they woke.

“You have made so many sacrifices with such selfless love and care over all these years. I can now understand why you seemed so happy during my concession speech on election night. I love you so very much.”