Barilaro had been planning exit, says it's time for a refresh

Mr Barilaro said he'd already chosen a date to leave politics before Ms Berejiklian's resignation on Friday, after she was named in an ICAC inquiry.

Her departure had brought that timeline forward and it would have been disingenuous of him to stay on as Deputy Premier in a new government when he'd already made up his mind to leave after more than 10 years in NSW politics.

"It was not the right thing to do by the public, to stay in the job, when I knew I would be going."

He'd already planned leaving at the end of this year, he said.

Mr Barilaro ruled out running for federal politics as a candidate for Eden-Monaro, although he said his decision to go now was also provoked by the the Liberal member for Bega, Andrew Constance's decision, to resign and contest the federal seat of Gilmore.

Mr Barilaro and Mr Constance were involved in a bizarre stand-off at the last federal election when both suggested they would run for Eden-Monaro. Both eventually pulled out.

Mr Barilaro said he would now be watching politics from the sidelines and wanted "a refresh" as he turns 50 in November. "Call it a mid-life crisis if you like," he joked.

Meantime, it looked as if his deputy Nationals leader Paul Toole was firming as his likely successor at the NSW National party room leadership ballot, set down for Wednesday.

A number of personal issues had "taken its toll", Mr Barilaro said. He'd lost his father recently and was in the middle of a defamation action about what he said were 'racist attacks' on him by a Youtube blogger.

He said he'd experienced racism growing up as the son of Italian migrants.

The defamation action had taken its toll and it was hard to continue the case while in public office. He attacked Google for letting the material stay on the web.

Mr Barilaro said he welcomed Dominic Perrottet becoming the new Premier, and said he was a "mate". He said "Dom" had tred to talk him out of leaving. He said the state would have a bright future with Perrottet as the new premier and he had shown his desire to open the Treasury purse strings to help regional and rural NSW economies.

"This is very difficult," he said of leaving . "I wear my heart on my sleeve and I genuinely care for the people of NSW". He's seen the state through drought and the pandemic and stood with people who'd lost everything in the Black Summer bushfires.

He has been Deputy Premier for five years. He holds Monaro by 12 per cent after a strong personal vote at the last state election. A by-election is likely to be held late this year or early next year.

Commenting on his desire to stay in politics, he said : "the fight is over, I've lost the fight."

Mr Barilaro took a one-month mental health break in September last year after his government was split by planned koala protection planning laws.

Paul Toole said he was considering whether he will stand for NSW Nationals leader.

"In his five years as Deputy Premier, John Barilaro has helped steer NSW through some of its toughest periods - from drought to the pandemic," Mr Toole said.

"Testament to his character he never shied away from a challenge. He threw his hand up to lead the Government's response to fires and floods and more recently, to be the architect of the roadmap to recovery from COVID 19 - always with a view to supporting communities and ensuring those hit hardest received the help they needed to bounce back.

"As leader of the NSW Nationals, he's always put the people of regional NSW first and fought relentlessly to ensure they had the infrastructure and investment they deserve. It's fitting that a former chippy has been responsible for building a stronger regional NSW.

"He leaves behind an enormous legacy that is evident from border to border.

"I've been proud to work alongside John since we were elected together in 2011 and over the past three years as his deputy, and seen the passion and ferocity he's thrown into every day.

"Over the next 24 hours I'll consider how best I can serve our party and the people of NSW in this next period to build upon the foundations that he's laid.

"Thanks for everything Barra - you will be greatly missed."

Mr Perrottet said he was sad to see Mr Barilaro go.

"I am deeply saddened at the loss of a close friend and formidable colleague in NSW Parliament, however I know it is a decision John has been considering for some time, and I understand and support him in his decision," Mr Perrottet said.

"John is one of the fiercest and most effective advocates for the people of regional NSW that our state has ever known.

"His long track record across a range of portfolios leaves our state - and especially our regions - much stronger, and with a brighter future, from delivering local schools and hospitals for people in our regions, creating jobs and establishing new centres of economic activity through Special Activation Precincts, to most recently leading on the NSW Roadmap.

"John's extraordinary energy in Government and on the campaign trail is something I have been lucky to see up close, and I have learned so much about regional NSW by working with him over the past few years."