Dominic Perrottet, Chris Minns go head to head in first NSW election debate

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Labor leader Chris Minns faced off in a heated debate ahead of the March election, trading barbs over pokies, privatisation and the public service. Tell us who you think won.

The first formal debate of the NSW election campaign has kicked off between Premier Dominic Perrottet and Opposition leader Chris Minns.

Talking with 2GB’s Ben Fordham, the party leaders locked horns – with pokies, privatisation and public service wages headlining a discussion where the two jostled for listeners’ ears.

In an opening pitch, the 2GB host asked each leader “what should make people think twice before putting the person next to you in control of the state”.

“I don’t believe he’s got the experience to deal with the economic challenge,” the current Premier said.

“They’re asking for 16 years in power … I think it’s time for a change,” Mr Minns followed, saying Labor has a “plan to fix NSW by investing in front line services”.

It was privatisation and public service which the debate regularly came back to, with Labor’s policy – to scrap the public sector wage cap and pay for infrastructure just through state-owned infrastructure scrutinised by Perrottet, who said it would leave a massive funding shortfall.

At the same time, the Premier wouldn’t rule out further privatisation of state-owned assets.

Mr Minns said privatising roads such as the M4 had hit its users harder than if it had remained in public hands.

“This is the thing about you Dom. You refuse to acknowledge … that the M4 … will be paid off six times over,” Minns said.

Premier Dominic Perrottet and Labor leader Chris Minns during Thursday’s debate. Picture: 2GB

Perrottet asked Minns if he would have built the WestConnex motorway if he was Premier, the Opposition leader replied by acknowledging the project’s worth without giving the Premier any credit for it.

“WestConnex has been a good project and I give credit to former premier Gladys Berejiklian and her predecessor Mike Baird for that kind of investment,” Mr Minns said.

The Labor head echoed his previous mantra to end privatisation in NSW, but the Premier queried how – alongside a scrapped public sector wage cap – Labor would pay for major projects, like finishing the $27 billion Sydney Metro network.

“You can’t build those projects on dividends from state-owned corporations,” Mr Perrottet said.

At the same time, when grilled if he’d take privatisation off the table, the Premier would only say: “We have no plans for any further privatisation.”

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and NSW Labour leader Chris Minns at the 2GB studios ahead of Thursday’s debate. Picture: John Grainger

Fordham was quick to ask – if Labor won’t privatise anything, would it not leave their hands tied when it came to funding?

“Absolutely not. At the end of the day, you can’t be in the situation where you’re flogging off the family jewels or home to pay off the credit card,” Mr Minns said, saying budget savings and dividends would be enough to pay for the mega projects.

On the issue of health, the premier said: “Why is it the case that we have a $30 Billion investment in our health system, the strongest in the country.

“Why is it the case that in NSW we don’t see the ramping issues that we see in other Labor states around the country?

“You talk a big game in Labor states but you actually don’t deliver, it’s the liberals and nationals that have built more hospitals than ever before in our states history.”

When quizzed on the state’s growing deficit – which has hit $11.4b – Perrottet added: “Running the state’s economy is not like running the school tuckshop … We’ve navigated drought, bushfires, (and) a one in one hundred year pandemic.”

On the flashpoint issue of gambling reform, Mr Perrottet said his government had tackled the issue because no one else was brave enough.

“Politics. We know it’s been very hard to take on this reform … and that’s why no one has (tried) in decades,” Mr Perrottet said.

Mr Minns warned “we saw the same moralistic language” on greyhounds and lockout laws, which the government subsequently wound back.

The next debate between the two leaders is locked in for The Daily Telegraph’s landmark Future Western Sydney summit, to be hold at Rosehill Racecourse on March 2.

PERROTTET, MINNS TO GO HEAD-TO-HEAD AT FUTURE WESTERN SYDNEY SUMMIT

Premier Dominic Perrottet and Chris Minns will face off in an old-fashioned western-style shoot out – of the verbal variety – in a mid-election showdown for Western Sydney voters.

The Premier and Opposition Leader will unveil their visions for the region at The Daily Telegraph’s landmark Future Western Sydney summit, to be hold at Rosehill Racecourse on March 2.

The match-up will be at the height of the campaign, barely three weeks before the March 25 poll.

Mr Perrottet and the man who wants his job will both address the summit, outlining why they deserve to get Western Sydney’s vote.

Both major parties know the region will be crucial to the outcome of the election, helping decide who will lead the state for the next four years.

Opposition Leader Chris Minns and NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet will face off in a debate at The Daily Telegraph’s Future Western Sydney summit. Picture: Lucas Dawson

Mr Perrottet and Mr Minns both praised the importance of Western Sydney on Wednesday.

The Premier said a “shift in mindset” over the past decade has led Western Sydney from being an “afterthought” to the “epicentre of opportunity”.

The Labor leader argued that under the Coalition, Western Sydney living in Western Sydney meant “getting second best”.

Both leaders are expected to be pressed on their plans for vital infrastructure needed to support growing communities, including homes, healthcare and schools.

Mr Perrottet said his government has delivered historic projects for Western Sydney.

“We have built historic road and transport connections – WestConnex, Parramatta Light Rail, metros and more. And we’ve made western Sydney a cultural centre in its own right, with projects like the relocated Powerhouse and Western Sydney stadium,” he said.

He said the transformation in Sydney’s west was “a credit to The Daily Telegraph’s visionary campaigning, and the Liberals and Nationals’ long-term economic plan and our decade of delivery”.

Mr Perrottet said the opportunity in Western Sydney must not “go to waste,” insisting the Coalition will finish important projects and embrace big ideas.

The Premier will pitch to Western Sydney that the government will finish important projects and embrace big ideas.

Meanwhile, the Labor Leader argued that under the Liberal-National government, western Sydney was getting dudded.

“The 500,000 people who have moved to Western Sydney since 2011 know they aren’t getting their fair share – not in health, transport, education, social services, parks, recreation facilities or housing,” he said.

He called the Future Western Sydney summit an “opportunity for fresh thinking and new ideas” to deliver for suburbs booming with population growth.

“Western Sydney needs a fresh start. It needs a team that listens and understands its concerns,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Minns will argue NSW needs a new leadership team.

The Daily Telegraph Editor Ben English said this year’s Future Western Sydney series would ramp up the paper’s proud tradition of campaigning for the region.

“In the nine years since we launched Fair Go For The West this amazing region has been transformed.’’ he said.

“It has gone from being stigmatised and neglected to a beacon of opportunity.

“And with Future Western Sydney we will ensure it is front and centre as a state election battleground.’’

Mr Minns and Mr Perrottet faced off for their first debate ahead of the election on 2GB on Thursday, appearing with host Ben Fordham.