Mr Newton took guardianship of the top job at the weekend, taking up the office left vacant by Adam Dent on Friday. Mr Newton said he had enjoyed a close working relationship with his predecessor and understood his decision to resign over “a serious error of judgement”. 

“As much as I'm inspired by the work he's done over the past 12 months, I think the decision he's made is the right decision for him to make,”  Mr Newton said. 

“People are shocked, but Adam has left us a tremendous legacy with some of the things he set up over a 12-month period.”

Mr Dent, 36, was convicted of mid-range drink driving at Wollongong Local Court on Thursday. 

That evening, he disclosed the court outcome in an email to SES members. He offered an apology, but no resignation.

“My commitment to you now is to ensure that in every possible sense I continue to serve you and to do so with the distinction you deserve,” he wrote. 

“Please accept my most sincere and humble apology and know that I remain wholly dedicated to supporting you in your incredible contribution to NSW.”

It was Saturday when Emergency Services minister David Elliott announced he had accepted Dent’s resignation. The delay prompted some speculation that Mr Dent had been forced to vacate his post. Mr Newton said this was not true.

“I know that with absolutely no doubt – it was [Mr Dent’s] decision to resign based on his view of the seriousness of the position he was in, and the implications of that as the leader of an agency that responds to motor vehicle accidents on a daily basis across the state. [He felt] it was the only decision he could really make.”

Mr Newton, 47, spends the working week in Wollongong while his family remains based in Canberra. He is seen as a safe set of hands with – rare for someone in the top job – extensive experience as an SES volunteer. He joined the SES as a 17-year-old and was a volunteer with Queanbeyan unit for 23 years before landing at state headquarters in 2010 as assistant commissioner. He was promoted to deputy in May 2015. He has not indicated whether he will apply to take the job permanently.

Mr Dent’s resignation followed that of former commissioner Murray Kear, who was charged after the Independent Commission Against Corruption found him corrupt for sacking a whistleblower and failing to investigate corruption claims against his deputy and friend, Steve Pearce.