Gladys Berejiklian says voters have delivered a ‘strong message’
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said voters had delivered her a “strong message” after the Coalition’s dismal by-election result in Wagga Wagga.
NSW
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GLADYS Berejiklian has spoken to Prime Minister Scott Morrison after blaming the dismal Wagga election result on the federal leadership spill and says they are “on the same page”.
In her first press conference since the Liberals lost the seat of Wagga Wagga, the NSW Premier also said “she doesn’t blame” voters for being angry at her government and that “she would have had the same response”.
Current vote counts suggest the Coalition will lose the former safe seat by a huge swing of 29 per cent with independent Joe McGirr predicted to win.
The Liberals had previously held the seat for more than 60 years.
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“The people of Wagga sent me and my government a very strong message yesterday and I accept that message,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The timing of the by-election with coincided with other major political events that could not have been foreseen. It was the perfect storm, the disenchant was doubled by obviously the actions of the former member, but also what happened at other levels of government.
“We hear there is an underlying concern in the community about how politics is conducted and there is an underlying mistrust in how government works and I need to restore that trust.”
Ms Berejiklian said the biggest issue in the by-election was “trust” and that members of the public were “sick of the sniping” and the perception politicians were “in it for themselves”.
She admitted the Coalition would now have a “huge battle” in next year’s state election.
“There’s no doubt this makes it more difficult for us into the future I accept that, but that only redoubles our efforts to work harder,” she said.
Ms Berejiklian said the people of Wagga were angry at the actions of disgraced former MP Daryl Maguire and Canberra infighting.
“I don’t blame the people of the Wagga region for having the response they did. I would have that response if I was a person trying to raise a family, trying to make sure they have a good quality of life,” she said.
“If you see Governments focusing on themselves rather than the electorate of course you’re going to get that result, and I take that on board. I accept it.”
Ms Berejiklian said she had spoken with Prime Minister Morrison this morning and that they were “on the same page”.
“I have been in touch with the prime minister this morning and we’re both clear on the fact we need to work hard to regain the trust of the community,” Ms Berejiklian said.
When asked whether she told him she thought Liberal spill had cost them the seat, Ms Berejiklian said: “It’s fair to say we have a very open and honest and frank relationship.”
Labour’s view
Opposition Leader Luke Foley has described the result in Wagga as an “electoral earthquake”, upsetting six decades of Liberal representation and sending shockwaves through Macquarie Street.
While conceding Labor candidate Dan Hayes may not have enough votes to beat independent Joe McGirr, Mr Foley was confident the party had “smashed” the Liberals, who have held the seat since 1957.
And he urged Premier Gladys Berejiklian to “hear the message” from disillusioned voters who were crying out for change.
“For the final count to be between Labor and independent after six decades of entrenched Liberal representation, that’s an electoral earthquake here in Wagga and Ms Berejiklian needs to hear the message,” he said at a doorstop in the now marginal seat.
Mr Foley claimed the Liberal Party was a “shambles at all levels” and said it was “rich” of the Premier to lay the blame on Canberra’s doorstep.
“It’s a bit rich to say, ‘I accept responsibility but it was my federal colleagues fault’ in the same breath,” he said.
“There’s a pattern now, seven by-elections under Ms Berejiklian’s watch … swings of 20, 25, 28 per cent against Liberal and National candidates.”
Mr Hayes said there had been whispers about Wagga becoming a marginal seat for “many years”.
“Yesterday that whisper became a roar that we’re not to be taken for granted any more,” he said.
“A lot of us never thought we’d see this in our lifetime but we’re living it right now.”
The likely winner
Dr McGirr said he was “taking nothing for granted”, with the count expected to continue until Thursday.
“It seems to be we won’t have a clear indication perhaps till the end of the week, so we can’t take anything for granted but certainly the initial response was very positive,” he said.
“I’m quietly optimistic but the preference count will be critical, the Shooters’ preferences will be critical so we just need to see how that will pan out during the week.”
But some residents in Wagga had already made up their minds with Dr McGirr saying he was “overwhelmed” by expressions of support from people who had already congratulated him.
“I was genuinely overwhelmed by expressions of support from people and they’ve actually kept coming in this morning … people have congratulated me in the supermarket and on the street,” he said.
While reluctant to speculate on the circumstances that played to his advantage, Dr McGirr said there was a “high level of disenchantment” with the party system.