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Two months out from the NSW election Dominic Perrottet's deputy is standing by him after the premier's revelation that he wore a Nazi uniform at his 21st birthday party.

Already hobbled by the retirements of a dozen colleagues, the state premier on Thursday disclosed his controversial costume choice amid rumours about the 2003 party.

"Dominic Perrottet has my support and he also has the support of the Nationals," Deputy Premier Paul Toole told 2GB on Friday.

"He admitted he's done something stupid but we've all done something stupid (and) insensitive and there are things that we all probably regret when we were 21."

Treasurer Matt Kean - a potential leadership rival - had earlier also thrown his support behind the premier.

But former Labor premier Bob Carr said the 40-year-old Perrottet was now unelectable.

"Will Jewish leadership insist on his resignation? They should. The memory of six million demands it. He must go," he said.

"If some kid in western Sydney who didn't know better, scrawled graffiti on a synagogue, they would be demanding prosecution under the new provisions of the crimes act."

Mr Perrottet's confession was prompted by a cabinet colleague's private warning on Tuesday.

Seven News named Transport Minister David Elliott as that colleague.

"At that age in my life, I just did not understand the gravity of what that uniform meant," Mr Perrottet said on Thursday.

"It was just a naive thing to do ... I'm truly sorry for the hurt and the pain this will cause right across our state."

Asked where he saw the humour in wearing a Nazi uniform, he suggested all people matured differently based on their experiences.

"I am not the person I was when I was 21," the 40-year-old said.

"At that time, the pages of the history books had not had the impression on me that they should have."

The incident came a year after Mr Perrottet joined the NSW Liberal Party and two years before he was appointed president of the NSW Young Liberals.

In the two decades since Mr Perrottet hired the Nazi costume and walked into his birthday party, attitudes have evolved, renowned Australian Jewish historian Suzanne Rutland said.

"There's been a much greater sensitivity that is developed over the years to these types of issues," she told AAP.

Dr Rutland noted it was only last year that the swastika was banned in NSW and Victoria.

"And yet there have been problems with the swastika for years - it didn't get banned at that point in time," she said.

Cultural historian Jordana Silverstein said the timing of the premier's admission was about saving face, rather than genuinely accounting for his actions.

"It's always been considered offensive, but it's a matter of whose opinions have been listened to, and respected," she told AAP.

"(Mr) Perrottet wearing the Nazi costume speaks to the normalisation of anti-Semitism and how acceptable it is amongst a certain segment of Australian society."

The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies accepted a personal apology from the remorseful premier and said it hoped "this unfortunate incident will serve as a lesson to all".

Followers of the Board of Deputies were divided about the significance of the incident, which the premier has cast as a terrible mistake of youthful naivety.

While some said the public knew well in 2003 that dressing as a Nazi was offensive, others said young men like Mr Perrottet didn't have the inherited experience and education about the Holocaust.

Polls for the state election open on March 18.

© AAP 2023

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The race to find motorcycling's king of the desert has grown even closer with Australian star Toby Price now only 28 seconds down in the runner's-up spot in the Dakar Rally.

Seeking a third Dakar crown, the Gold Coast rider is less than a half a minute down on Husqvarna's Skyler Howes, who edged back into the lead after Thursday's 11th stage, with only three now remaining before Sunday's finish in Dammam.

Price's Argentine Red Bull KTM teammate Kevin Benavides, the overnight leader, slipped back to third place, still only 2:16 behind the Australian in what is shaping up as a fantastic finale to the two-week marathon in Saudi Arabia.

Winner on Thursday was Benavides' brother Luciano, who took his third stage of the fortnight, while Australian Daniel Sanders (Red Bull GasGas) was runner-up on the day ahead of his friend Price, who came home third.

That put early race leader Sanders seventh overall, 21:40 down on Howes, who was enjoying a sixth day at the head of the standings and was left conceding: "It's going to be tight going all the way in to the finish, which is super exciting".

Sanders was hampered by a painful thorn in his arm which he reckons will need surgically removed when he returns home but he's been making a impressive late run.

Price was grateful for avoiding a navigation error earlier in the stage that caused problems for his nearest rivals.

"For sure, starting further back was a little bit of a better option today," he told the race website.

"We had a good day, no crashes, no nothing, so it was good. We pushed where we could and tried to minimise the risks as much as we could and not lose so much time, but starting from the back, for sure, it meant we could try and gain some time.

"I feel like I didn't lose too much time. It looks like it's not a bad result. We'll keep fighting because there's still a long way to go and see what we can come up with."

In the cars race, Sebastien Loeb earned his fifth stage win of the rally, and his fourth in a row, to put himself 9:37 behind second-placed Lucas Moraes but still but more than an hour and a half behind runaway Toyota leader Nasser Al Attiyah.

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Members of the royal family have appeared in public for the first time since the publication of Prince Harry's explosive memoir, touring charities and a hospital as they got on with the task of being working royals.

King Charles travelled to Scotland to meet with local groups that help combat rural isolation while the Prince and Princess of Wales seemed relaxed as they arrived to formally open Royal Liverpool University Hospital in the home city of The Beatles.

The book, Spare, offers myriad revelations and accusations, many of which have been splashed across the global media for days.

In the ghostwritten memoir Harry, 38, recounts his grief at the death of his mother, Princess Diana, a fight with brother Prince William and his unease with the role of royal "spare" in the shadow of his elder sibling, who is heir to the throne.

In a series of interviews, Harry repeatedly blamed the media for his troubles, saying that unfair and intrusive coverage contributed to the rift with William.

He also accuses members of the royal family of leaking stories to the media to burnish their own reputations.

People are snapping the memoir up.

Penguin Random House announced on Wednesday that first day sales topped 1.4 million copies.

By contrast, Michelle Obama's blockbuster Becoming needed a week to reach 1.4 million when it was released in 2018.

The sales figures for Spare include hardcover, audiobook and e-book editions sold in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

© AP 2023

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Nick Kyrgios has urged fans to show respect to Novak Djokovic in his hotly-anticipated Australian Open return but expects some will cross the line.

Nine-time champion Djokovic has lamented being treated as a "villain" during last year's deportation saga, which proved particularly polarising in Melbourne.

Ahead of chasing a 10th Melbourne Park crown, Djokovic has admitted a touch of uncertainty over not just his tight left hamstring, but also the reception he will receive from crowds.

Kyrgios is due to play an exhibition match against his Wimbledon final conqueror Djokovic on Friday night and could also meet the Serbian star in a mouth-watering Open quarter-final.

He called for fans to show their appreciation.

"He's abided by the last two years of whatever has been dealt his way and he's here and all he wants to do is put on a show," Kyrgios told reporters.

"He's chasing things that athletes rarely are able to chase. He's one of the greatest athletes of all time, not just in the tennis court.

"I know that there's going to be fans that are not going to want him to win but I think they can't cross that line as fans.

"You guys have paid money to watch a guy play. It's a bit contradictory if you're gonna go there and be a clown about it.

"You've got to respect him a little bit at the end of the day, because he's one of the best to ever do it.

"But look, I know there's going to be fans that are gonna cross the line anyway."

On Wednesday, Djokovic, who won his 92nd tournament title at the Adelaide International, reiterated the reception he'd received in South Australia had been fantastic, but added: "I don't know (about Melbourne), but I hope positive. I really hope the crowd will be receiving me well.

"That's something that I can't predict, I don't know. It's in their hands I guess.

"I'll try and do my best to perform well, to have the relationship and behave as I always have and try to be a good ambassador of the sport, and hopefully that can be recognised in a good way."

Djokovic launched a staunch defence of his visa application before last year's Australian Open, insisting he did everything right and "just followed all the rules" before his dramatic deportation from the country.

In an interview with Channel Nine's Todd Woodbridge, Djokovic reignited questions about his treatment in 2022, saying: "Two or three more people that came into Australia 10 days before I did with exactly the same exemption that I had.

"I was just following the rules. My exemption was verified by an independent body and panel of doctors."

Craig Tiley came under fire as CEO of Tennis Australia and tournament director, being grilled about his handling of the Djokovic situation amid accusations the star had been misinformed about the criteria he needed to fulfil to enter the country as an unvaccinated visitor.

"I came in with all the valid papers. Everything got out of hand and then I was labelled this or that," said Djokovic.

"All of a sudden, I became the villain of the world which was obviously a terrible position to be in as an athlete and someone who is looking to thrive in his own direction of life and profession."

© AAP 2023