ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr 'unlikely' to be laying flowers for John Barilaro

"Unlikely, I don't think that would be an essential reason for travel across the border," Mr Barr joked at Monday's press conference.

"In all seriousness, John and I have had our moments over the years but we have been able to work together to promote some particularly important cross-border advancements in terms of service delivery and transport infrastructure, for example."

Queanbeyan-based Mr Barilaro said on Monday, after more than 10 years in state parliament, and almost five as Nationals leader, he had "lost the fight" and wanted to start life after politics.

"It's been an extraordinary 72 hours in NSW politics," Mr Barr said.

"I hope to have some productive engagement with them once they've got their feet under the desks," he said of the new NSW government leaders.

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Mr Barr and Mr Barilaro most recently exchanged quips after the latter linked COVID fragments detected in Merimbula's sewage to Canberrans who had fled down to the South Coast.

Mr Barr hit back, saying he was not interested in having "whose poo it was arguments".

Speaking on Monday, Mr Barr said: "We're on different sides of politics but of course I wish him all the best for the future."

"Though I doubt he'll become a sewage detective, I think I wouldn't recommend that as his next career."

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