By Tom Rabe
Greater gambling reform, an increase to social housing and a feral horse cull are among a list of demands from a diverse group of key crossbenchers and independents that NSW Labor leader Chris Minns may need to woo to form minority government.
While strong swings across NSW on Saturday would put Labor within striking distance of the government for the first time in over a decade, the party may also need the support of several crossbench MPs to edge over the line.
Clockwise: Wagga Wagga independent MP Joe McGirr; Greens Jenny Leong; Sydney MP Alex Greenwich; Greens Tamara Smith; Regional independent Greg Piper; Greens Kobi Shetty.Credit: Mixed
Among the potential kingmakers are three NSW Greens MPs, who have said their support would rely on a vast improvement in the state’s social and public housing infrastructure, and a mandatory cashless gaming card.
The party is hopeful of maintaining its three lower house seats in Newtown and Ballina, as well as Balmain, where new candidate Kobi Shetty replaced the outgoing Jamie Parker.
While Minns has for months ruled out negotiating with the Greens to form government, it’s likely he will need to rely on their voting block to form government.
A group of three key independents, who played an integral role in keeping the Coalition in minority government, could also prove pivotal to deciding the election result, including Sydney MP Alex Greenwich.
Greenwich helped guide voluntary assisted dying legislation through parliament last year and has been a vocal advocate for major gambling reform in NSW.
“If a majority of voters back candidates who support reform, regardless of what the parliament looks like, I’m calling on Chris Minns to stop blocking meaningful reform and get out of the way of action to combat money laundering and gambling harm,” he said.
He told the Herald in February that banning gay conversion practices in NSW was also a priority in the next parliament, and his support in a minority government would be contingent on backing for his bill. Both Perrottet and Minns have already promised to back the legislation.
Wagga Wagga independent MP Joe McGirr – who won his seat at a 2018 byelection triggered by the sacking of Gladys Berejiklian’s then-lover and disgraced Liberal MP Daryl Maguire – wants immediate action to protect Kosciuszko National Park.
The regional doctor revealed to the Herald that his support would most likely be contingent upon which side could guarantee to abolish the so-called “Barilaro brumbies bill” and significantly reduce the 18,000-strong feral horse population in the alpine region.
He also wants an incoming government to guarantee a regional health minister will be kept in cabinet, and to consider moving the major energy infrastructure project HumeLink underground.
Meanwhile, regional independent Greg Piper, the member for Lake Macquarie, has also pushed hard for gambling reform in NSW, but has said he would be most inclined to support whichever major party won the most seats.
A trio of former Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MPs who walked out on the party last year could also play a significant role in determining who forms government. Independent Murray MP Helen Dalton left the shooters last March, before Orange and Barwon MPs Phil Donato and Roy Butler quit in December.
Independent MP for Sydney Alex Greenwich at his campaign office in Surry Hills.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
Several Labor sources said they were hopeful Dalton would support the party to form a minority government if she held on to the regional seat. Dalton wrestled the seat from the Nationals at the 2019 election with a two per cent margin.
Dalton has been one of the few regional MPs to call for widespread gambling reform in NSW, resulting in a targeted campaign against her from the clubs lobby.
“It’s up to us as independents and the crossbench to really stand up about this … It’s something we need to shine a light on,” she told the Herald last year.
While an incoming NSW government will likely be contending with Greens and independents in the Legislative Assembly, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation could hold significant sway in the Legislative Council if it secures a third seat in the upper house.
Former federal Labor leader Mark Latham will likely be re-elected to an eight-year term, while the party is also hopeful of adding another MP to the upper house, along with retired police officer Rod Roberts.
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