27 March | NSW State Election: Labor Victory
Labor is on the cusp of majority government in NSW after Chris Minns led his party to an emphatic victory after 12 years in opposition.
Premier Dominic Perrottet on Saturday night conceded defeat and stepped down from the Liberal leadership, while his former deputy Stuart Ayers faces an uphill battle to hold onto his seat of Penrith.
With counting suspended until Monday and around half of the count completed, Labor is currently on 45 seats, two short of majority, with more than a dozen seats still too close to call.
Double digit swings in parts of western and south-western Sydney and the South Coast saw the opposition romp home in a swathe of seats, while at the same time the Teal wave experienced in last year’s federal election largely failed to replicate at state level.
Liberal moderates with a strong stance on climate change in Manly, North Shore and Hornsby held their seats while One Nation’s decision not to preference the government looks to have hurt the coalition in western Sydney.
While polling for some time predicted a substantial uniform swing to Labor, some of the individual seat results still came as a surprise.
On current projections, Labor will pick up Parramatta, Heathcote, South Coast, Riverstone, East Hills, Camden, Penrith and Monaro.
Labor also gained the new seat of Leppington and remains a chance of winning Kiama, Terrigal, Ryde, Oatley, Miranda and Holsworthy.
Popular local mayor Michael Regan looks to have won retiring Health Minister Brad Hazzard’s seat of Wakehurst, with Teal independents still a chance in Pittwater, Willoughby and Wollondilly.
All of the existing independents looks to have comfortably won their seats, with the exception of former Liberal Gareth Ward, whose seat of Kiama will go down to the wire.
The Greens have held the three seats of Balmain, Ballina, and Newtown and would be expected to back Labor should they fall short of majority.
A quick summary of Labor’s key election commitments can be found below:
Drivers will have their weekly toll usage capped at $60. Estimated to benefit about 51,000 drivers a week. Proposed cap an extension of the 40 per cent toll rebate for motorists who spend more than $375 on tolls during the 2022-23 financial year.
Families to have $250 slashed off electricity bills — small business will save $315 — under a $485m plan. Eligible to households receiving income support, pensioners and Seniors Health Card holders, and Family Tax Benefit recipients. To take effect in four instalments over a year.
Stamp duty to be abolished outright for first homebuyers buying a home worth up to $800,000. Concessional rate to first-home buyers purchasing a property up to $1,000,000.
Expanded hospital capacity by adding 600 beds across Western Sydney, including a $700m investment for a 300-bed hospital at Rouse Hill.
Creation of a NSW Energy Security Corporation to accelerate investment in renewable energy assets through industry partnerships on projects such as pumped hydro and community batteries.
Legislated NSW carbon emission reduction targets, including net zero by 2050 and a 50 per cent reduction on 2005 carbon emission levels by 2030.
Establish a Great Koala National Park on the Mid North Coast at $80m cost. A consultation process to change koala strategy with wildlife corridors created in Woronora Heights and Heathcote.
Abolition of public sector wages cap.
Set up a NSW Jobs First Commission to oversee implementation and growth of local industries and advocate for local firms bidding for government tenders.
No privatisation with legislation to be introduced to stop privatisation in the future.
$70m for three extra helicopter ambulance bases in regional and rural NSW.
Gaming machine numbers to be cut, mandatory cashless gaming trial involving at least 500 pokies and political donations from clubs with pokies outlawed. Cash feed-in limits in new machines to be reduced from $5000 to $500.
Appoint NSW Rental Commissioner to consult and draft of legislation on reasonable grounds for eviction. Portable bonds scheme.
Mobile phones banned in public high schools with technology like phone jams to stop kids using their devices to be explored.
100 public preschools built and 50 preschools upgraded or built at non-government schools.
Parramatta Light Rail stage 2 construction to begin within first term.
Transport Asset Holding Entity and Northern Beaches Link will both be scrapped.
