Federal election 2016: Baird hopes for magic touch in the West

PREMIER Mike Baird is lending his weight to the Coalition’s crucial campaign to hang on to marginal Liberal seats in Western Sydney.

HE’S known as “Magic Mike” for his ability to charm voters out of the trees, and now NSW Premier Mike Baird is lending his weight to the Coalition’s crucial campaign to hang on to marginal Liberal seats in Western Sydney.

Mr Baird, whose approval rating stands at 60 per cent, has told Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull he is willing and able to do anything asked of him during the federal election campaign.

Such is his influence that Liberal insiders are suggesting NSW could outperform the other states on July 2 — largely due to the performance of the state government.

Premier Mike Baird outside his Manly office / Picture: Troy Snook

The Premier is understood to be more than willing to help Mr Turnbull on the hustings and he made this clear to The Daily Telegraph yesterday. “This is a critical election for Australia,” Mr Baird said.

“What voters must ask themselves is; who is best positioned to manage the economic fortunes of this country?

“As we transition away from the mining boom, and with global economic conditions remaining uncertain, we need a leader who knows how to drive growth and jobs.

“Clearly, Malcolm Turnbull brings outstanding credentials to that task. One key to growth and jobs is infrastructure.

“Here in NSW, Labor dropped the ball on infrastructure when it was in government, and now in opposition it wants to cancel all of our projects.

“Federal Labor is also a risk to our infrastructure program, opposing the restitution of the ABCC, which will help to keep our program on time and on budget.

“Given all of this, while I ­remain focused on the job at hand, when the PM needs my support to boost growth and jobs in NSW he’ll have it.”

Liberal insiders are suggesting NSW is actually the state which could save the government. A strong performing Baird government, a booming economy and infrastructure all contribute to the Coalition vote in NSW being stronger than states like Queensland and Victoria.

One state issue that could affect Coalition federal election prospects adversely is the Baird government’s council amalgamations.

But most of the proposed mergers are in safe Coalition seats, meaning they are probably not seat losers for the government.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has been vocal in his opposition to the amalgamation of Walcha and Tamworth councils.

Labor is understood to be confident about picking up the seats of Paterson, now that Liberal Bob Baldwin has retired; but will face a tough fight against Newcastle businesswoman and Liberal candidate Karen Howard; and also ­Dobell, on the Central Coast.

But both those seats are now notionally Labor after a redistribution and the Opposition needs to win 16 other seats — and potentially seven in NSW including Banks, Eden-Monaro, Macarthur, Lindsay, Page, Robertson and Reid — to win office.

Originally published as Federal election 2016: Baird hopes for magic touch in the West