Head of Australian state apologizes for wearing Nazi uniform at party

Australia’s New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet says he shared a "very good discussion" with Jewish community leaders after revealing he wore a Nazi costume to his 21st birthday party, Report informs referring to ABC news.

Perrottet attended a meeting at the Sydney Jewish Museum this afternoon, hours after making the bombshell admission during a scheduled press conference.

When leaving the meeting, he declined to comment on what was said other than that he reiterated his "deepest apologies and regret" over his actions.

The premier said the audience had been a "powerful reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust and impact that's had on the Jewish community".

"We had a very good discussion," he said.

Earlier today, Perrottet said he was "deeply ashamed" for wearing the uniform to a fancy dress party, saying it had caused him "much anxiety" through the course of his life.

He told a press conference in Sydney that he decided to come forward after receiving a phone call from a cabinet colleague two days ago.

"When I was 21, at my 21st fancy dress party, I wore a Nazi uniform," he said.

"I'm deeply ashamed of what I did. And I'm truly sorry for the hurt and the pain that it will cause people right across our state.

"Particularly members of the Jewish community, Holocaust survivors, veterans and their families. I'm truly sorry for that terrible mistake."

Perrottet said he was "not aware" of any photo depicting him in the uniform, denying the announcement was made to pre-empt any political attacks ahead of the March election.

"I thought this was important, that this is my truth, that I should be the one to explain that to the people of our state, not someone else," he said.

The premier said he was "naive" at the time of the incident and "didn't understand the significance of that decision".

He said the party's theme was "uniforms".

The premier said he had not turned his mind to how the revelations could damage his re-election pitch but said he did not believe it would damage his leadership of the NSW Liberal Party.

He said he was "not the person today that I was when I was 21" and had since become a "very passionate supporter of the Jewish people".