Farewell, NSW, my job here is done…

“My job here is done” would have sufficed for John Barilaro’s resignation speech this morning.

He couldn’t even wait until Gladys Berejiklian officially vacates the premier’s seat tomorrow before joining the unedifying exodus from the shitshow that is the current New South Wales government.

I am certainly not suggesting that the Nationals leader and deputy premier was in anyway relishing his boss’ demise. Or that he was in any way part of the white-anting, undermining, backstabbing, plotting, knifing or other untoward behaviour behind the scenes in the shitshow that is the current NSW government. (Or did I say that already?)

But I would bet that whatever weasel words he used to explain the timing of his decision, Barilaro is not leaving in a show of solidarity with Our Glad. I do not expect to see his name pop up on that growing change.org petition “Don’t let Gladys go”.

I’d also bet anything that there won’t be any similar clamour of support to save our “Pork Barrel-aro”.

The conspiracy theories are running hot in the bearpit of NSW politics: that Berejiklian did not simply stand aside until the ICAC report just so she could prevent the deputy premier taking the top spot for that time. At least it is now abundantly clear what a farce was the truce brokered after the infamous “koala-gate” stoush where Barilaro threatened to blow up the entire government.

After Berejiklian finally stood up to his bullying and he returned from mental health leave, he went out of his way to play nice with everyone. In public at least.

He was not the only one Berejiklian needed to worry about, of course — she had plenty of people undermining her, from Macquarie Street to the heart of Parliament House in Canberra.

And no one is to blame for her demise but herself and her actions. In fact she was damn lucky she held on this long, given her fate was sealed last October after her bombshell ICAC appearance and revelation of the secret affair with dodgy Daryl Maguire.

(Nor is Berejiklian’s improbably messy love life the only one rumoured to be causing political ructions in the current state government. Rumours of affairs have dogged at least one senior state pollie for years since one paper was close to breaking it during the Barnaby Joyce scandal.)

Probably the only reason the boyos let her hang on so long (apart from dealing with the mess of the lockdown) was that her heir apparent, Dominic Perrottet, needed a bit of distance to rid himself of the stench from his own damaging icare scandal.

It is indeed more than unfortunate that so many have forgotten Adele Ferguson’s excellent investigative reporting in Nine newspapers and the ABC on the extraordinary mismanagement of the agency which reportedly lost some $4 billion under the supposedly excellent treasurer’s care.

When Andrew Constance announced his resignation at the weekend from state Parliament to try for a federal seat (again), some saw it as a statement on working with the new premier.

He might have been the first to bail but might not be the last given the shitshow that is the current NSW government. Or did I already say that?