Gladys Berejiklian and Michael Daley battle it out for your vote

With less than week before NSW residents go to the polls, Gladys Berejiklian and Michael Daley each reveal why their party deserves your vote. READ THEIR PITCH

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GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN

I am proud to be your Premier.

Every day, I am inspired by the great people who call NSW home, including our hardworking police, teachers, nurses and other providers of essential services.

I am inspired by our tireless volunteers.

We have worked hard to build the economy so we can invest in new hospitals, schools, roads and public transport infrastructure — and take the pressure off you.

Next Saturday, you have the choice between a Government that has a clear, positive plan on what we will do, and the track record to back it — and an Opposition whose campaign is only about what it will not do.

Our community really does deserve to have it all.

Only through the strong financial management of the NSW Liberals and Nationals Government are we in a position where that is possible.

“I believe NSW can have it all,” NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Picture: Richard Dobson

We have fixed the budget, paid off the debt Labor left behind and supported businesses to create hundreds of thousands of new jobs, delivering NSW’s lowest ever unemployment.

Labor promised 12 rail lines, but during 16 long years in office, they only every delivered one half of one project.

This time, Labor want to cancel the South West Metro, the F6 extension, Western Harbour Tunnel and we know they don’t support the M4 and M5 extensions.

Unlike Michael Daley, I won’t settle for second best.

Right now, we are delivering the greatest investment in public transport in Australian history. We are fixing our transport system. There are now 45 major projects underway, each worth more than $100m.

We are investing more than ever in our hospitals — new facilities at places like Bankstown-Lidcombe, Tweed Valley and Nepean, and recruiting an additional 5000 nurses and midwives.

We are building new schools, hiring an extra 4600 teachers, providing before and after school care in every public primary school, and clearing the maintenance backlog.

Of course, Labor think it’s a choice between schools, hospitals or stadiums — because they couldn’t manage the budget they never got the opportunity to build as we have.

I believe NSW can have it all.

MICHAEL DALEY

I want to put the people of NSW first. They have had enough of being ignored.

I want to give government in NSW back to the people.

For too long people have been ignored by the Liberals and Nationals, whether you are living along the WestConnex, the Sydney light rail corridor or beside the dying Darling River.

The Liberal and National government’s projects have been rammed through with little to no consultation with local communities.

There is no greater example of this than the Premier’s stadiums policy. It is arrogant policy made by an out of touch government.

Good government is all about the right priorities and I will not spend $2.2 billion on a stadium splurge.

I will not knock down and rebuild a perfectly good stadium in Sydney’s east.

Instead I will fund 5000 more teachers and introduce nurse-to-patient ratios for the first time, to improve patient care.

“I want to put people first,” NSW Opposition leader Michael Daley. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Under a government I lead, schools and hospitals that have been so badly neglected in the past eight years will be built or upgraded so everyone gets the education and healthcare they deserve.

The Premier likes to say you can have it all. My parents told me to always tell the truth so I say I won’t promise you something I can’t deliver.

I will treat you and your hard-earned taxes with respect.

I will listen to your concerns and spend your taxes wisely — on things that can really make a difference to you and your families. Initiatives like refunding the toll on the M4, free public transport on the Opal network for your kids or waiving the fees for TAFE courses.

As a paperboy growing up in my neighbourhood, I would often sit and have a cup of tea and listen to people’s stories. I learned that people didn’t want handouts or ask to be given special treatment, they just wanted decent services and to be heard and respected.

I have travelled around the state and met wonderful people who have simply asked to be heard — they’re the experts, after all, the people who know their communities best.

They are the ones I will be listening to if I become premier in six days’ time and I promise to do my best to make sure they are heard in Macquarie Street.

I want to put people first.