Federal election results holds lessons for both Libs and ALP in NSW

If Labor wins in NSW next year, it would hold power in every government on the Australian mainland - a fact the state Liberals will be careful to point out.

The teal wave that wiped out Liberals in the eastern suburbs and northern beaches will pose a threat to Premier Dominic Perrottet holding onto power, NSW Liberals admit, but neither side of politics thinks Anthony Albanese’s win proves a death knell for the state government.

State Liberal sources even believe that an Albanese government will be more open to reforms to childcare or the healthcare being pursued by state governments across the country.

Mr Perrottet told The Daily Telegraph that Saturday’s results are a “reminder for both major parties (to be) focused on our people”.

“There’s a disconnect from where the major parties are and where the public is,” he said.

“The public wants positivity, hope and optimism.”

The federal Coalition’s loss is a warning, but not a death knell, for Dominic Perrottet’s NSW government. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Mr Albanese’s win on Saturday was being viewed cautiously by state MPs, but both sides acknowledged NSW Labor leader Chris Minns would be wiped out if a primary vote of 32 per cent was replicated at the state level.

Liberals believed teal independents would be less of a threat at the state level, due in part to optional preferential voting.

Chris Minns’ hopes of becoming premier would be dashed if the federal Labor primary vote of 32 per cent is mirrored in state election results next year. Picture: Supplied.

The “patchy” results in Western Sydney made it hard to extrapolate the federal result to a state election, sources from both sides said.

However an Albanese government could make it harder for Mr Minns to win government in the March 2023 election.

A federal Labor government means the Minns Opposition cannot run a campaign tapping into perceived anger at Scott Morrison.

NSW Liberals acknowledge that there could be merit in highlighting the fact that if Labor wins in NSW, it would hold power in every government on the Australian mainland.

State Liberals on Sunday said the failure to preselect candidates for crucial seats sooner made an impact in Mr Morrison losing power on Saturday night.

Bennelong and Parramatta were two seats where the party would have done better if candidates had more time to campaign, they said.