Chris Minns sworn in as Premier of NSW

Chris Minns has been sworn in as the 47th Premier of NSW in a lavish ceremony at Government House this morning.

Chris Minns sworn in as the 47th Premier of NSW.

Newly minted Premier Chris Minns is likely to rule in minority government with several key seats slowly starting to sway to the Liberals.

Despite wiping out strong Coalition margins across the state – the Liberal party could hold onto key electorates including Terrigal, Miranda and Holsworthy.

On Tuesday, the dream of converting the last Liberal stronghold on the Central Coast was slipping away from Mr Minns with MP Adam Crouch stretching out his lead against Labor’s Sam Boughton by 240 votes.

After pundits initially called Terrigal for Labor on Saturday night, a slow vote count had Mr Crouch leading by 87 votes on Monday.

“These things are a bit of roller coast so the last briefing I got was that it will be hard for Labor to get that seat,” Premier Minns said on Tuesday.

Premier Chris Minns is officially sworn in by NSW Governor Margaret Beazley at Government House in Sydney. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) NO ARCHIVING

Another seat which was previously on a knife‘s edge may now head to the Liberals with former Minister Eleni Petinos ahead by 532 votes in Miranda.

Polling guru Anthony Green said he expected Labor to finish with 45 or 46 seats – short of the 47 needed for a majority.

“My reliable sources tell me the Liberal Party will retain Pittwater and Gareth Ward will retain Kiama. If true Labor maximum seats is 46,” he said.

“Looking like Labor will finish with 45 or 46 seats.”

Prue Car and Chris Minns Premier pose for a photo after being sworn into governement. Picture: NCA NewsWire / pool / Jessica Hromas

Despite Mr Green’s predictions, the Premier remained confident that Labor could secure Kiama where independent Gareth Ward was ahead by 615 votes with almost 80 per cent counted.

“We are still very hopeful of Labor’s candidate being elected,” Mr Minns said.

Independents Alex Greenwich, Greg Piper and Joe McGirr have promised supply and confidence to the new government but Mr Minns said no deals had been done.

“We are either going to be one seat off or have a majority. We have had fruitful discussions with the crossbench … There hasn’t been (any deals),” he said.

“If we were in minority and minor parties on the cross bench were prepared to support Labor, we were happy to accept their support but we wouldn’t be doing any horse trading or any deals.”

Earlier in the day, Mr Minns and his interim leadership team were sworn in at Government House before he finalises his full cabinet next week.

NSW Premier Chris Minns and Deputy Premier Prue Carr speak at Government House after they were sworn into government. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

“Counting is continuing in many key seats and we don’t know the final composition of the next parliament. But my team and I are ready to hit the ground running … and we can’t wait for those responsibilities of office,” he said.

After claiming Monaro, Labor was also optimistic about their chances in another regional seat — Goulburn where former Minister Wendy Tuckerman went head-to-head with Labor‘s Michael Pilbrow.

With almost 80 per cent of the votes counted on Tuesday, Ms Tuckerman had secured a 368 vote lead over her opponent.

First time candidate Tina Ayyad also doubled her lead with the Liberals ahead of Labor by 526 votes in Holsworthy.

Two previously contentious seats -- Oatley and Pittwater -- were very likely to go to the Coalition by the end of Tuesday’s count.