Gladys Berejiklian almost sure to become New South Wales premier

PanARMENIAN.Net - The New South Wales treasurer, Gladys Berejiklian has confirmed she will run for premier with the finance minister, Dominic Perrottet, as her deputy, The Sidney Mornin Herald reports.

New South Wales is a state on the east coast of Australia, with Sydney as its state capital. In March 2014, the estimated population of New South Wales was 7.5 million, making it Australia's most populous state.

Berejiklian said she will be running for the NSW Liberal Party leadership and premiership.

If successful, she would become the first female Liberal premier of any state.

Potential opponents are yet to rule out contesting her for the ballot but party sources say a Berejiklian victory is likely.

Berejiklian made her name in the Transport portfolio and was a favourite of former Premier Barry O'Farrell's but declined his urging to stand in a ballot to succeed him, even though her supporters say it could have been a close-run thing.

Berejiklian was born in Manly to Armenian immigrants but only spoke Armenian until the age of five.