Labor’s lead narrows a month out from NSW election
Luke Costin and Phoebe Loomes |
NSW is on track for minority government with two new polls suggesting the coalition has closed the gap on Labor.
A Newspoll survey published on Monday shows primary support for Labor has fallen by four percentage points since September to 36 per cent, while the coalition has gained two points to 37 per cent.
Labor leads the two-party preferred vote 52-48.
A second poll, published by the Australian Financial Review, suggested a 53-47 split favouring Labor.
If replicated uniformly on March 25, both major parties would fall short of the 47 seats needed for a majority and be forced to rely on independents and minor parties to govern.
One of those independents – Wagga MP Joe McGirr – on Monday announced a rapid reduction in the number of brumbies in the Kosciuszko National Park would be key to his support.
A recent survey estimated there were 18,814 horses in the park in November 2022 – 30 per cent more than two years earlier.
Premier Dominic Perrottet stood by the government’s policy.
Opposition Leader Chris Minns declined to back Mr McGirr’s stance on Monday and also baulked at introducing a rental freeze called for by the Greens.
“My colleagues and I are running for majority Labor government,” he said.
To help get him there, Mr Minns unveiled a plan to establish TAFE manufacturing centres of excellence in western Sydney, the Hunter and the Illawarra.
The centres would train or upskill 1000 apprentices and workers a year in traditional and advanced manufacturing technologies, including the train-making Labor wants to bring onshore.
“We believe in domestic manufacturing and we’ve got the policies to back it up,” Mr Minns said at a Lake Macquarie factory.
Mr Perrottet headed to western Sydney to claim the coalition’s infrastructure plans would create 100,000 new jobs in the region across five years, predominantly through the construction of three Metro projects.
It comes after Labor said it would not proceed with half of the government’s Metro projects because of cost blowouts.
“Labor have a black hole in their budget and already they’re cutting projects,” Mr Perrottet said.
“We need to complete the Metro.”
He rejected a parliamentary report that accused him of hindering its probe into lucrative overseas trade roles, including one awarded to former deputy premier John Barilaro.
The premier also pushed back at claims his government’s home buyback scheme was lagging a year after catastrophic flooding wiped out thousands of homes and killed five people in Lismore and surrounding areas.
“Those comments are incredibly unhelpful,” he said.
“We are working very closely with the new reconstruction authority, with families, particularly in the Northern Rivers, to get them back on their feet (with) over $6 billion in support from state and federal governments.”
He vowed to stand with the community “every single step of the way”.
Both leaders are expected to visit Lismore this week, one year after floodwaters peaked at a record 14.4 metres and decimated the town.
NSW Greens MPs Jenny Leong and Tamara Smith visited on Monday to launch their plan to levy higher taxes on “big polluter” companies to build 2500 new social and public housing homes.
Lismore represented the frontline of both the housing and the climate crisis, Ms Leong said.
Coal exports would be hit with a “climate disaster levy”, raising $7 billion a year, while banks, fossil fuel companies and property developers would also be targeted.
Nominations for the March 25 election have officially opened.
Former Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham and former Australia Idol host James Matheson are the lead candidates for the Legalise Cannabis party while Fred Nile, 88, has nominated despite previously announcing his retirement.
First elected to the upper house in 1981, Reverend Nile will run on a group ticket with wife and primary candidate Silvana Nile.
AAP
