Editorial: Scott Morrison revival a factor in NSW

The seat-by-seat results in this month’s NSW election will provide a fascinating political snapshot of our state — and also a potential guide to how NSW may vote federally.

The seat-by-seat results in this month’s NSW election will provide a fascinating political snapshot of our state — and also a potential guide to how NSW may vote federally.

Intensely local issues and enthusiasms would appear at this stage to rule out the sort of universal voting trends NSW has seen in some recent elections.

While Gladys Berejiklian says she wants to run her own show, having Scott Morrison is still having a positive rub-off effect in a key marginal seat. Picture: AAP

And we might already be looking at the possibility of recounts in some of the state’s closest electoral battles.

The seat of East Hills, for example, is the most marginal government-held seat in NSW. And right now, according to an exclusive YouGov Galaxy poll conducted for The Daily Telegraph, Labor is locked with the government 50/50 on a two-party preferred basis.

Primary support for the Liberal candidate Wendy Lindsay stands at 44 per cent. Labor’s Cameron Murphy is currently on 42 per cent. Interestingly, Prime Minister Scott Morrison may prove to be a tie-breaker in this particular race, for the poll identifies him as a net positive influence on East Hills voters.

In the seat of Ryde, however, it’s a very different story.

There, only 30 per cent of voters are more likely to vote Liberal due to the Morrison government’s performance while 37 per cent say they are less likely to vote Liberal.

Polling shows just how disparate are the issues foremost of mind across Sydney. In Ryde, 27 per cent of voters are primarily concerned about urban development and infrastructure projects. Quite how this may tie in with Labor Leader Michael Daley’s record on development is an open question.

In East Hills, the main issues are migration, population and health — all of which are essentially the same issue. East Hills voters, like many in Sydney, are acutely aware of the pressures placed on health services due to those services being stretched across too many people.

As matters stand, the election is shaping as a very narrow government win. Gladys Berejiklian might still face the trauma of running a minority government if a uniform negative swing of 3.2 per cent occurs. Yet Labor would need a far heftier 8.7 per cent swing in order to form a majority government.

If Prime Minister Morrison can be a positive factor in some of the closest NSW contests, there could yet be some hope for the Coalition government in the coming federal election.

IT’S A RAILS RUN FOR REFUGEES

To qualify for discount travel on Sydney trains, you generally need a few years on you as an Australian citizen.

Opal gold cards, which entitle the bearer to unlimited daily train travel at a cost of $2.50, are usually granted only to seniors and elderly pensioners. But there is another way to qualify.

Just rock up to Australia and claim to be an asylum seeker.

According to the latest figures from the Department of Home Affairs, more than 6000 “illegal maritime arrivals” currently live in NSW and would be eligible for gold cards.

Australia has stopped the boats, but the trains keep rolling on.

OUT FIRST LADY OF THE SKIES

As The Daily Telegraph has previously noted, Australian naming protocols tend towards the literal.

A bridge in Sydney that crosses the harbour will be known as the Sydney Harbour Bridge. And so on.

Our naming rules generally avoid celebration of notable individuals, which is unfortunate, given how many such people Australia has produced.

So it is very welcome indeed that Sydney’s second major air facility is to be officially named Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport.

Nancy-Bird Walton is synonymous with Australian flight.

As our first female pilot, her name evokes both the adventure and spirit of aviation’s earliest commercial era.

“It is fitting that having recognised Charles Kingsford Smith at Sydney Airport that we now recognise Australia’s greatest female aviation pioneer, Nancy-Bird Walton,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, announcing the airport’s title.

“Nancy-Bird Walton is an Australian legend.”

Well said. What a wonderful honour for Western Sydney.

The Daily Telegraph, printed and published by the proprietor, Nationwide News Pty Ltd A.C.N. 008438828 of 2 Holt St, Surry Hills NSW 2010, at 26-52 Hume Highway, Chullora. Responsibility for election comment is taken by the Editor, Ben English.