DUMPED NSW Premier Nathan Rees has vowed to stay in politics and has thrown down a challenge to Kristina Keneally: continue the reform agenda.
Writing exclusively for The Daily Telegraph, Mr Rees backed away from his claims, made on the morning of his dumping, that any new premier would be "a puppet" of powerbrokers Eddie Obeid and Joe Tripodi.
Mr Rees, who is yet to announce whether he will accept a Cabinet post in the Keneally government, said he was fully aware he might lose his job for attempting to end developer donations and wrest control of the party from the powerful factions.
"These were moves to emphasise the importance of integrity and transparency," he said.
"Pursuing them involves risk, but the Government now has the responsibility to see them through."
Mr Rees said he had never regretted accepting the premiership from Mr Obeid and Mr Tripodi last year, despite the fact they had subsequently turned on him.
Read more on The Daily Telegraph online.
