“Andrew has an outstanding local reputation and a great deal to offer at the federal level,especially given his experience in the NSW government. He tells it straight and would make a great member of our team.”

Mr Constance said he was “heartbroken” by the snap resignation of Ms Berejiklian who will be the subject of an ICAC inquiry this month.

“Gladys is one of the best premiers we have ever seen. I hope she bounces back as strongly as possible because I know we have not seen the end of her yet,” he said.

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet remains favourite to become the Premier,despite Planning Minister Rob Stokes formally nominating for the job on Saturday.

Labor hold Gilmore with a 2.6 per cent margin after wrestling the South Coast seat from the Liberals for the first time since the 1990s at the 2019 federal election.

Mr Constance has long considered a move to Canberra,having last year announced his intention to run for the federal seat of Eden-Monaro before quickly pulling out of the raceamid an internal spat with Deputy Premier John Barilaro.

Mr Constance,a former Young Liberal president arrived at Macquarie Street in March 2003,the same month as Ms Berejiklian,who remained a close friend as the pair rose through the ranks.

The 47-year-old grew up in Canberra,spending time on his family’s Berridale farm and later worked in public relations before entering politics.

Mr Constance shot to national attention when he delivered a scathing assessment of the Prime Minister’s leadership during the 2019/20 summer bushfires,saying Scott Morrison had received “the welcome he probably deserved” when Cobargo locals heckled him after he arrived to survey the damage.

Since the bushfires,Mr Constance has been outspoken on the need for government action to address climate change,and pursued a number of policies including converting Sydney’s train network to renewable energy.

He was also astrong advocate for the state’s newelectric vehicle plan,unveiled at the June state budget,which will use subsidies and grants to encourage the uptake of the technology and delay a distance-based tax on the cars for several years.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard wished Mr Constance well in his federal political tilt,describing him as a stalwart of State Parliament.

“He has sacrificed a lot of himself for the community he represents. No one could forget Andrew’s sadness and his passion when there have been terrible events in his community,” he said.

“He might have been fighting the fires on his own front doorstep,but he was also fighting the fires and supporting his broader community.”

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