Labor's candidate for NSW premier makes drink-driving confession

The new NSW Opposition leader, Luke Foley, has revealed he has twice been convicted of drink-driving after random breath tests.

The 44-year-old made the admission to avoid someone else digging it up and smearing his name ahead of the March 28 state election, even though both offences occurred before he ­entered parliament, News Corp reports.

The most recent offence was in 2007 when Mr Foley, then an assistant secretary with the Labor Party, blew 0.085 after being pulled over while going home from a party fundraiser.

His licence was suspended for nine months.

Mr Foley's first offence happened when he was 23 in Goulburn, in the NSW southern tablelands, after leaving a party to stay at a local hotel, he said.

On that occasion, he blew about 0.07 and his licence was only suspended for a fortnight because it was a low-range offence.

Mr Foley entered guilty pleas for both offences.

"I'm not proud of this, in fact I'm ashamed," he said.

"I never pretended to be a perfect person but I think it's important I’m honest and upfront."