NSW should be the nation's social conscience and not just its economic powerhouse, Labor MP Luke Foley said ahead of a caucus leadership ballot in which he is expected to be elected unopposed.
Speaking on Wednesday at Cronulla beach, where his children had been taking surfing lessons, a relaxed Mr Foley said he was "buoyed and humbled" by support he had received from his parliamentary colleagues to take Labor to the March election.
Mr Foley was granted a clear run to the top job on Tuesday after his only remaining challenger, Maroubra MP Michael Daley, withdrew from the race when it became clear Mr Foley had the numbers to win.
Mr Foley is a leading member of the party's minority Left faction, but has the backing of ALP head office and was expected to defeat Mr Daley, of the Right, should a ballot take place on January 5.
"A Labor Party led by me will be a party of solutions and never a mere party of protest, Mr Foley said.
"I want NSW to be the great economic powerhouse of Australia, the great employment generator in our nation. At the same time I want it to be our nation's social conscience. It's possible to be both."
Mr Foley said he did not assume he had secured the leadership, and would wait to see if any challengers emerged before Monday.
Mr Foley is an upper house MP and must secure a lower-house seat. Auburn incumbent Barbara Perry has been pressured to step aside for him, but has so far refused to do so. Mr Foley said he was "relaxed" about Ms Perry retaining her candidacy at this stage, but said the pair would speak if he is elected leader and "we'll see what eventuates".
Mr Foley has been a strong driver of Labor reform, including democratising the party, and reiterated his insistence on facing a rank-and-file ballot, rather than being installed by head office.
NSW Treasurer Andrew Constance has reportedly said Labor's "faceless men" were behind Mr Foley's expected ascension to the leadership.
Mr Foley rejected the suggestion was a "tired refrain" and said his hard work and strong performance in opposition "led many of my Labor colleagues to ask me to lead the party."
The Labor leadership is up for grabs just three months out from the state election, following John Robertson's resignation over revelations he signed a letter of request for Lindt cafe gunman Man Haron Monis in 2011 as his local MP.
Mr Foley signalled a departure to the approach of Mr Robertson should he be elected leader, but declined to outline his policy direction.
"Every leader brings his or her own priorities and perspectives. But I don't think New Year's Eve is the time to outline new policies because I don't think very many citizens of NSW will be listening," he said.
"Win, lose or draw the election for Labor's leader, I will have a lot to say then."
