The office of Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner was reeling on Wednesday at the news of the resignation of NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
When the Port News contacted Mr Stoner's Sydney office, staff were receiving details of the announcement as it broke.
A media spokesman said Mr Stoner will not return from a trade mission in south-east Asia until Thursday evening and would not be in a position to comment on Mr O'Farrell's resignation until then.
Mr O'Farrell will call a party meeting next week to officially resign after which a new Liberal leader will be elected to take on the position of Premier of New South Wales.
Treasurer Mike Baird and Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian are considered frontrunners for the position.
The Port News has contacted Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams and Country Labor spokeswoman Colleen Carmody for comment.