NSW election 2023: Issues facing Premier Chris Minns’ ministry as minority government looms
Chris Minns is all but certain to govern in minority after further seats fell to rival candidates. But the bigger issue facing his fledgling government is the state’s monumental list of problems spanning health, education, transport, roads and the budget.
State Election
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The new Minns government is getting to grips with the state’s most pressing issues, including Sydney’s troubled transport network and the mass fish kill in far-west NSW.
Premier Chris Minns, acting Environment Minister Penny Sharpe and MP Rose Jackson on Wednesday travelled to Menindee to the site where tens of millions of native fish washed up dead on the Darling-Baaka River less than two weeks ago.
The trip highlighted the range of issues facing the new Labor government, which inherits portfolios bulging with issues and laden with election promises.
Few jobs will be more challenging than transport, with incoming Transport Minister Jo Haylen inheriting a rail network which suffered major delays as recently as Saturday as people were casting their votes.
Ms Haylen will also have to deal with a ferry fleet which has suffered faults on an almost monthly basis since hitting the water, including a major steering failure last week.
She will also be responsible for getting the New Intercity Fleet on the tracks, after the trains were kept in storage for more than a year following a long period of industrial brawling between the rail union and the former government.
Ms Haylen said she had more to say about the issues facing her portfolio “in the coming days”.
“It’s clear there are serious and significant issues across the transport network. Passengers face repeated cancellations and delays thanks to 12 years of the Liberals’ obsession with overseas-made infrastructure and neglect of our transport system,” she said.
“Whether it’s on our trains, buses, or ferries, passengers expect to get a reliable service and with Labor their needs will always be our first priority.”
Ms Sharpe said the biggest issue facing the new government was the budget.
Labor has forecast the state could be in $187bn debt by 2026, which the party will have to contend with as it makes good on its promise to scrap the public sector wage cap, which was set to keep pay rises to 3.5 per cent this year.
“The budget situation is very challenging and we’re going to have to work through that,” she said.
Mr Minns said the Menindee fish kill was one of the first things his government would tackle, announcing he would task an investigation likely headed by the NSW chief scientist into the event.
Despite having no Labor MPs west of Monaro, Mr Minns said issues in the bush would still get attention.
“I’ve made a commitment during the election campaign that if we were elected we will represent all four corners of NSW and I will be a Premier for every part of this state. So travelling to regional communities will be a high priority for myself,” he said.
Hopes of majority fade with Ward win
By Dylan Arvela and Angira Bharadwaj
Gareth Ward has declared “the people always get it right” as he reclaimed the seat of Kiama while fighting sexual assault charges.
Labor conceded to the former Liberal-turned-independent on Wednesday, with Mr Ward leading the vote by 1048, blowing apart the party’s chances of forming majority government.
It comes a day after Mr Ward faced Nowra District Court on five charges including including sexual intercourse without consent, three counts of assault with an act of indecency and one count of common assault. He has pleaded not guilty to all five charges.
Mr Ward yesterday said serving the community had been the “greatest honour of my life”.
“When it comes to elections, the people always get it right and it is with humility and honour that I look forward to continuing to work hard and get results for the people of our community as the local Member for Kiama,” he said.
Another contentious seat, Miranda in Sydney’s south, is also likely to escape Labor with former Fair Trading Minister Eleni Petinos ahead of Labor’s Simon Earle at last count.
On Saturday night, Ms Petinos looked set to lose her seat but by Wednesday she was on track to hold, with 1588 more votes than her rival.
Just three seats are yet to be called: Goulburn, Holsworthy and Terrigal. In each seat the Liberal candidate is ahead making it unlikely that Labor will reach the target of two more seats to make majority government. Labor has so far secured 45 seats.
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