Tomorrow, Premier Chris Minns celebrates his first year in office. I spoke to him on Friday.

Fitz: Premier, thank you for your time. I happen to know that late on the evening of your election victory, you had just got home in triumph when your wife, Anna, sent you out to get pizza for the well-wishers on their way over. You must have had a view at that point what the next year as premier would look like. A year on, has it panned out as you thought?

Premier Chris Minns with wife Anna and their sons, the day after he was elected a year ago.Credit: Edwina Pickles

CM: Yeah, I knew it would be busy and that we’d have a lot to do, but it’s been a lot like repairing an aeroplane mid-flight. So in addition to everything that you have to do to run things, you’ve also got to reform the place – which has been challenging. But I still, genuinely – honest to God – get into bed each night, pinch myself and say to Anna, “You know, I still can’t believe I’ve got this job!”

Fitz: You met Anna in Young Labor. Is she the person who has the single greatest influence on which way you steer the ship of state?

CM: Yes. We’ve been together so long, and we’ve kind of grown up together. I’ve got more of a sense of “us” than just “me”.

The premier with son George Minns at Taronga Zoo.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

Fitz: I know you to be a devoted family man with three young sons. Would I be right in saying that nine out of every 10 units of energy you have to give to life right now goes to being premier, and there’s only one unit left over for the family unit?

CM: Yeah, that’s true. But I do put time aside for kids’ sport. And we’re a really close family. I think the measure of success with your family is, when you walk through the front door, are you happy to see everybody? And that is absolutely still the case. I love getting home and seeing everybody. Yesterday, Anna was in Canberra for work, so I was in charge at home and seven-year-old George came to the breakfast table wearing his school uniform that he wore to bed the night before. And I said, “You definitely wore that to bed. I know that you didn’t even put your pyjamas on!” And he said, “I’m sticking to my story.”

Fitz: A born politician! Do you make parent-teacher nights and have you done canteen duty since you’ve been premier?