Mr Daley’s withdrawal spared Labor a potentially bruising battle between the pair that some MPs feared would further divide the party following last Friday’sresignation of Jodi McKay as leader.
Mr Minns said he was humbled to have been elected by his parliamentary colleagues but conceded deep divides within caucus would not disappear with his election.
“I’m not saying it’s magically fixed,I’m saying that there will be challenges ahead,” he said.
“My job now is to rally the troops,focus on the people in NSW and as I’ve said repeatedly,have a positive and optimistic plan about what’s possible”.
Mr Minns will now take the weekend to select his opposition frontbench,but he would not commit to announcing it by the time Parliament resumed on Tuesday.
Mr Daley earlier said he decided to pull out because it was “completely clear” that Mr Minns had the majority caucus support. He told Mr Minns of his decision earlier on Friday.
Mr Daley maintained that no one in the party or its head office had ever asked him to stand down.
“It was wholeheartedly in the best interest of the party that I’m not pushing this to a ballot,notwithstanding the fact that I do believe that,as a matter of principle,the members should have a say,” he said.
“I did,contrary to some reports,have sufficient numbers of supporters to force it to a ballot”.
If Mr Daley had proceeded to nominate and gathered the requisite 15 signatures,the party would have been forced to hold a costly and protracted ballot of branch members.
“This is a decision I have made talking to my supporters today,with one consideration in mind and one consideration only:what’s the best thing for the Labor Party”.
Mr Daley agreed to accept any offer to serve on Mr Minns’ frontbench,adding that he would help the party become a “war machine again”.
“Chris has given me indications that he’ll do that too and I accept him without qualification or doubt,” he said.
Mr Minns later said the Maroubra MP would have a huge role under his leadership.
Ms McKay did not attend caucus on Friday,however she later tweeted her support for Mr Minns as the new leader. Mr Minns has already indicated his predecessor would have a place on his frontbench.
Mr Minns,who entered NSW Parliament in 2015,had most recently been Labor’s transport spokesman. He had twice previously contested for leadership of the party.
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