Deputy Premier John Barilaro has joined his boss in the exit lounge of NSW politics, but unlike Premier Gladys Berejiklian he is going out on his terms after being an "absolute warrior" for the state, according to a National Party colleague.
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"He was absolutely working his guts out and I think he was feeling it," Mr Fang said.
"It doesn't surprise because we know how hard he has been working.
"He has just been an absolute warrior for us and we will absolutely miss him.
"He gets to go out at a time of his choosing and he gets to go out on a high.
"To be the first state to be able to re-open living with COVID is going to be particularly beneficial for us and that is down to the work by people like 'Bara'."
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Parliamentary rival, Helen Dalton, the Shooters, Fishers, Farmers Party MP, who toppled the Nationals' Austin Evans in the electorate of Murray in 2019, also wasn't surprised by Mr Barilaro's decision.
"John Barilaro has been under a lot of pressure and you could see the cracks appearing," she said.
"It's good news for regional NSW.
"It just shows a lack of commitment to regional areas.
"I've been writing to him on important issues, (mobile phone) blackspots, water, vaccinations and the like and he wouldn't respond.
"He also said he was proud of his nickname 'Pork Barilaro'. I could never understand whether he thought that was just the way you did business."
A third byelection will be held in NSW with Bega MP, Andrew Constance, confirming a tilt at federal politics.
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