Talkback radio king Alan Jones said the Liberal Party's likely choice for the next NSW leader, Gladys Berejiklian, lacks the ability to be premier and accused her of being installed by party factions without a proper contest.
Jones, who is on an overseas break to recover from surgery, called in to his own radio program to deliver the extraordinary intervention in the race to succeed Mike Baird, who announced his resignation on Thursday.
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Berejiklian likely to be next NSW Premier
Following the shock resignation of Mike Baird on Thursday, speculation surrounds NSW Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian to succeed him.
It came as another possible contender in the race, Planning Minister Rob Stokes, ruled himself out of contention on Friday morning.
"[Gladys Berejiklian] is not across these issues in a million light years," Jones said, referring to issues left behind by the Baird government, such as council amalgamations and the lockout laws.
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Jones, whose influence on Macquarie Street has been legendary, answered 'no' when asked if he thought Ms Berejiklian was capable of commanding a premier's brief, and he agreed that he considered her a "bad choice".
Jones further accused Ms Berejiklian of being installed by party factions including their senior lobbyist members without a proper contest.
"Before [Mr Baird's] announcement was made, the Gladys Berejiklian forces were already ringing up and doing deals so that this would all be a fait accompli," he said.
"It's all being stitched up. The public won't cop it. There is no democracy.
"There are other candidates … let them throw their hat into the ring along with Gladys Berejiklian who was quick out of the blocks to say 'I'm a starter' … yes, of course, you'd already organised the numbers before Baird had made the announcement."
At a press conference on Friday morning, Ms Berejiklian played down Jones' comments and would not be drawn on whether it would be more difficult to govern without his support.
"There will be so many people having so many opinions about me and that's normal," Ms Berejiklian said.
"Six years in the limelight has exposed me to a glimpse of what could be ahead of me if I'm successful on Monday.
"I believe there are always challenges for anybody putting their hand up for leadership roles in this state and it would be miraculous if everybody supported the same person - that is what democracy is about."
Much was made on Macquarie Street of the fact that Mr Baird's announcement came at a time when several MPs were on holiday. Mr Stokes, who was in Britain, was often described as Mr Baird's closest friend in Parliament.
Mr Stokes' exit from the race leaves only one possible challenger to Ms Berejiklian, Transport Minister Andrew Constance, who has previously denied giving Jones an undertaking to change government policy if he became leader.
Jones, a persistent critic of the outgoing Premier, also questioned Mr Baird's stated reasons for retiring: a number of major health issues affecting his mother, father and sister.
"Across NSW people would say 'What about the families who have been ruined by the greyhound ban … [and] gone broke because of the lockout laws?' " he said.
"Michael Baird has cut and run.
"There are thousands of families … who are facing those problems. And they've been affected [by government decisions]."
Fairfax Media contacted Mr Constance's office at noon on Thursday to ask if he was a candidate but has not received a reply.
Several MPs have identified him as making calls to test the depth of his support within the party room.
Mr Constance was forced to deny last September that he had given a secret undertaking to Jones that he would scrap the government's then-policy of banning greyhound racing if he became premier in the event of Mr Baird's resignation.
"I have had no discussions with Alan Jones," Mr Constance told the Parliament, after rumours of an alleged deal spread.
The ban was later overturned by Mr Baird.
Mr Baird has said Ms Berejiklian would make "an outstanding premier".
Responding to Mr Jones's outburst, Ms Berejiklian said: "The people who decide who the next Premier of NSW is will be my parliamentary colleagues. I respect the process and I appreciate the public will have a say on who the next premier will be in two years time."