With the stench of the Wollongong Council corruption scandal, developer donations and the New South Wales State Government’s radical planning reforms believed to be the main reasons for the Labor Party’s fall from favour, the Premier, Nathan Rees, said voters had sent a clear message to his Government.

Deputy New South Wales Premier and Transport Minister John Watkins is quitting politics, Premier Morris Iemma announced today. Mr Watkins will retire from Parliament, forcing an immediate frontbench reshuffle and a by-election in the north-western Sydney electorate of Ryde.