Morris Iemma to quit politics to stay home

Morris Iemma will leave politics to focus on being a husband and father.

The outgoing NSW Premier, replaced by Nathan Rees, said at a press conference this afternoon that he would be leaving politics, including as Member for Lakemba.

Asked if he had a new job lined u

Mr Iemma said Mr Costa had accepted his decision not to include him in his line-up "calmly, and with good grace''.

"I had to make a call when John [Watkins] answered his retirement .. there was an opportunity for refreshment and renewal and I set about to do that and my colleagues didn't agree,'' he said.

Mr Iemma said he had already tendered his resignation and the Government was now being run by Nathan Rees and Carmel Tebbutt.

"You look at Nathan and Carmel and you have two people with outstanding ability,'' he said.

He said Mr Rees had worked for him and he had wanted him in Parliament. He described him as intelligent and street-smart.

Asked if he felt that his colleagues had shafted him, he said: "No.''

He also said he knew he would have to go " a lot earlier" but was not prepared to say when.

His said his wife Santina understood the nature of politics and she had wanted him to continue and to do what he thought was right. He said in the end it was his decision.

Asked what he would be remembered for, he said: "Getting things done, doing the right thing, doing his best and leaves as premier and goes home as husband and father.

"There are five people at Lakemba who will be very glad to see me. At the end of the day, that'll do me.''

p after his resignation, he said: "Yes, husband and father."

He said his only test as Premier was to make decisions for the people of NSW and "the right decisions for our kids' future".

Mr Iemma said that as his tenure unfolded, he knew that some of his decisions might cost him his political future.

"Today that risk has been realised," he said.

Mr Iemma said that it was time for the Government to move forward with someone new and "I believe Nathan Rees is going to be the best possible choice".

He listed among his government's achievements new services for the disabled and mentally ill, reforms in public housing and bringing James Hardie to justice.

"What I have always done is put the party first," Mr Iemma said.

Mr Iemma said he tendered his resignation in the best interests of the party rather than go to a vote on his leadership because he did not believe that would be good for Labor.

Part of the conflict today centred on Mr Iemma's push for the dumping of a number of current ministers and his choices for a new cabinet line-up.

Among the fresh blood he had wanted included in his team were MPs Michael Daley and Tanya Gadiel.

"To me, they are an investment of the future as far as the Labor Party and the Government,'' he said.

Mr Iemma also said that the past week had been a difficult one for the outgoing Treasurer Michael Costa.

Mr Iemma said his colleagues had been loyal and they had wanted him to lead, but not with his team, a conflict that prompted his resignation.

"They said, 'We want to lead but not with the people that you want','' he said.

Mr Iemma said it was sad leaving public office.

"I don't leave with any regrets,'' he said. "I always set out to do things honestly, to do my best and to do things that are right.''