This Year In NSW Parliament
It was a big year in NSW Parliament - the excitement of an election, the turbulence of a hotly contested leadership change and the passage of historic legislation.
The year saw much discussion surrounding plastics in NSW, the appointment of a building commissioner and a focus on regional NSW.
One of the most memorable moments of the year on Macquarie Street came in September with the decriminalisation of abortion in NSW. After one of the longest debates in NSW Parliament’s history the legislation passed after the hard work of many members and activists who fought for decades for reproductive rights in NSW.
The Election
Saturday 23 March saw Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Deputy Premier John Barilaro lead the Coalition to a third term of government in NSW, with the Coalition forming a majority with 48 seats -- a two seat buffer between majority and minority government.
It is a historic win for two reasons: Berejiklian became the first woman to be elected Premier of NSW; and, by winning a further four year term, the twelve consecutive years of Coalition leadership will be the longest period of non-Labor government since before Federation.
In her victory speech, the Premier promised to continue to deliver the infrastructure projects, and services that will reform the state. She also reflected that she was proud of NSW, “a state in which someone with a long surname – and a woman – can be the Premier”.
The election saw the primary vote of both major parties slip backwards, to the benefit of minor parties and independent candidates. The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party wrestled two western NSW seats -- Barwon and Murray -- from the Nationals. The Greens have held their three lower house seats – Ballina, Balmain and Newtown. All the three incumbent independents on the crossbench were all returned. The Legislative Assembly crossbench has expanded from seven to nine.
Labor won Coogee off the Liberals and took the northern NSW seat of Lismore from the Nationals.
Despite the large swings in some seats, the Liberals and Nationals managed to hold on to the remainder of their marginal and key seats in the city and the bush. The Liberals' most at-risk seat of East Hills, which was held by a buffer of only 0.4 per cent, was won by Liberal candidate Wendy Lindsay, who secured an increased margin.
Labor Leadership
Jodi McKay, Member for Strathfield, was elected as the New South Wales Labor leader with a clear majority in June this year. McKay defeated Kogarah MP Chris Minns in a caucus vote 29 to 21, confirming the victory by winning 63 per cent of the votes of 10,800 rank-and-file members.
Labor was left leaderless for months after Michael Daley stepped down in the wake of the party's damaging defeat, with the party waiting for the Federal election to conduct its ballot.
McKay was previously a minister in Kristina Keneally's Labor government but was widely praised for later testifying against figures within her own party during the 2014 hearings before the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
McKay’s win means that for the first time in NSW, two women will face off in parliament as opposition leader and Premier.
Infustucture/ Transport
This year the NSW government announced unprecedented investment in road and rail projects across NSW, with $55.6 billion allocated across the next four years to invest in transport infrastructure, easing congestion and keeping the community moving. This includes $32.2 billion for public transport projects and $23.4 billion for road projects.
The Economy
This year’s “budget for the bush,” as it was deemed by the treasurer, saw regional NSW win big. Almost half of the 8300 new medical staff will be allocated to regional NSW, with $800 million worth of the drought assistance fund giving farmers some much-needed relief.
Other big winners were children across the state, with a $70 million investment into mobile dental clinics at schools in western Sydney, the central coast and the mid-North coast, and 76 million to boost elective surgery in hospitals, with children given preference. A $8 million Foodbank program was introduced, which will provide breakfast to children at 500 schools in low socio-economic areas. The Active Kids program will be given $291.1 million over four years which will see youngsters participating in organised sport with two $100 vouchers given per year instead of one.
After the strong budget announced June this year, the NSW government shifted its focus to NSW’s economic future Whilst the budget has delivered bang for buck across the State, as a result of the Commonwealth’s revision of the national GST pool, federal funding for major infrastructure projects in NSW is forecast to fall over the next few years. This fall will increase the pressure on the state’s taxpayers to fund projects such as Sydney Metro West from the CBD to Parramatta.
The end of the year saw NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet announce a blueprint that charts the NSW economy’s economic future and a review into NSW’s federal financial relations.
