NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet will take a break from his duties for the next two weeks, with Deputy Premier Paul Toole stepping in to fill his role.
Mr Perrottet welcomed his seventh child with wife Helen on Thursday and will take the time to be with family.
“From today I am taking leave to spend time with Helen and the kids as we all adjust to welcoming a new child to our family,” the Premier said in a statement.
Mr Perrottet added that given the ongoing flood emergency in northern NSW he would continue to receive briefings on the response and recovery effort and would remain ready to return to official dutiexjmtzyws “should the need arise”.
Stuart Ayres will assume the role of Liberal leader for the duration of the leave.
The Premier announced the birth on social media early on Thursday saying both Helen and new daughter, Celeste Grace Perrottet, were doing well.
“Celeste and Helen are doing great, and Celeste’s six siblings are over the moon,” he said.
“She‘s looking forward to being kissed and cuddled, fought over and cherished by her big brother and sisters.
“Special thanks to the incredible midwives who were with us every step of the way.”
Due to his leave coinciding with a state parliamentary sitting period from 22 to 31 March, Mr Perrottet said he would request a pair from the opposition.
A pair is an informal agreement sometimes implemented if a minister is unavailable to attend a sitting of parliament.
A member of the opposition can agree to sit out any votes so as to maintain a balance.
Labor leader Chris Minns, who was visiting flood affected communities in the Northern Rivers this week, congratulated the Premier and his wife on the arrival of their daughter.
Mr Perrottet, who is a devout Catholic, grew up the third of 12 siblings in Sydney’s West Pennant Hills.
At 39 he is the youngest Premier in the history of NSW.
In 2019 he told Fairfax Media he considered growing up in a large family a “privilege”.
“As you may imagine, my mother ran a very tight ship,” he said.
“But with so many of us around, she realised very quickly she could not get everything done by herself. I polished 12 pairs of shoes in summer. I packed 12 lunches in autumn. I changed 1200 nappies in winter and then changed them again in spring.”
The Premier will return from leave on Monday 4 April.
