Gladys Berejiklian orders doorknocking blitz on electorates 18 months out from election

EXCLUSIVE: WITH more than 18 months to go before the next election, Gladys Berejiklian has ordered her MPs to embark­ on a doorknocking blitz of their electorates.

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WITH more than 18 months to go before the next election, Gladys Berejiklian has ordered her MPs to embark­ on a doorknocking blitz of their electorates.

Numerous MPs have told The Daily Telegraph of the Premier’s demand that each member of her government front up to at least 300 homes over the July break, before the next sitting of Parliament­. Each will have to report the feedback they receive from constituents by the end of the month.

“We’ve got one of the laziest­ Oppositions in living memory,” one MP said. “It’s time for the government to get up off the dirt and fight.”

Premier Gladys Berejiklian wants MPs out talking to voters. Picture: Chris Pavlich.

The same Liberal MP said the order — made at a recent party room meeting — was important because it ensured colleagues were forming and maintaining connections with their communities well before the election.

“Standing on someone’s doorstep means you get both barrels about what people are thinking,” the MP said.

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Ms Berejiklian recently switched course on the government’s planned changes to the levy which funds fire and emergency services, after MPs began receiving worrying feedback from locals concerned­ about unintended consequences.

A different Liberal MP said the Premier appeared to want to use the doorknocking drive to assess her government’s performance.

Liberals have taken aim at Labor, calling the Opposition “lazy”. Summer Hill Labor MP Jo Haylen, Opposition leader Luke Foley and Labor Upper House MP Adam Searle talk with Kelby's Cafe owner, Moe Issa in Marrickville. Picture: AAP

“Certainly, the Premier is a new premier and she has a different style from the previous one,” the MP said.

“Her style is that the views of voters really matter to her and she wants to gauge what the electorate is saying about the government.

“That’s a worthwhile approach­ to make sure that the government remains connected with voters.”

The MP went on to say Ms Berejiklian was sending a strong message that “MPs shouldn’t only be seen in the electorate at election time”.

“That’s a welcome view to have,” they said.

“You just can’t be stuck in your office — you’ve got to be out there connecting with people.”

NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley. Picture: Christian Gilles

Ms Berejiklian at North Bondi earlier this year. While the election is still more than a year away, she’s ordered MPs out into the electorates. Picture: Brianne Makin

But others wondered how many MPs would actually bother carrying out the request, with one sceptical about whether everyone would make the effort,
despite the Premier’s order.

“The ones who always work will do it and the ones who don’t just won’t,” the MP said. “I don’t know that people took much notice.”

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Ms Berejiklian’s spokeswoman did not deny the directive had been given.

“We don’t comment on what is discussed in party room,” the spokeswoman said.

“The Premier always encourages all Members of Parliament­ to get out and speak to their communities.”

The exercise is also likely a chance for MPs to sell the recent, well-received state budget to constituents.

Earlier this year, Ms Berejiklian­ asked her MPs to eat dinner together more often, in the wake of a bruising Cabinet reshuffle process that had left many unhappy.

The Premier had wanted MPs to use any later sitting nights as an opportunity­ to break bread together and become closer with their colleagues­.

That request raised eyebrows at the time, with not everyone in the government convinced it was entirely necessary and some sneering at the suggestion it would heal factional­ wounds.