Best of the West: Western Sydney residents rate Berejiklian’s performance

Western Sydney residents are hard markers. But if, as a Government, you have the West onside, then you have a level of trust the political class rarely enjoys, writes Andy Marks.

In less than a decade, the Beatles went from Twist And Shout to Let It Be, conquering the world on the way. As the Fab Four would’ve attested, sustaining success over such a lengthy period wasn’t easy.

Marking 10 years in power, the NSW Government would likely agree that politics has all of the unpredictability of rock ‘n’ roll, but little of the glory.

Understanding your audience is perhaps the surest guarantee of success. In NSW the toughest, yet potentially most loyal audience, are the voters of Western Sydney. Trust is the key.

At the 2019 NSW election, the Berejiklian government weathered a -4 per cent swing across the West, compared to a -2.3 per cent dent statewide.

Western Sydney residents are hard markers. But if, as a Government, you have the West onside, then you have a level of trust the political class rarely enjoys. That can never be taken for granted.

Trust was the pervading consideration when the Centre for Western Sydney asked the region’s businesses, non-profits and community groups to rate the Berejiklian Government’s performance at the halfway mark of the current electoral cycle.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian speaks to the media during a press conference at the Nepean Hospital redevelopment, in Penrith, Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/BIANCA DE MARCHI

Looking at six priority areas for the West, the Centre’s inaugural Mid Term Report Card saw the Coalition score a B- overall. That’s a pretty strong result for any Government, especially one that has been around for so long.

Not surprisingly, the Government’s management of the pandemic rated an A in the report’s critical Health and Wellbeing category.

The state’s contact-tracing system was particularly commended, as were major investments in Western Sydney hospitals. It is clear, the West trusts in the system on which we’ve all depended on so much.

Again, trust was the key factor in the report’s other assessment areas. For ­instance, in the ‘Place and Connectedness’ category, the Government’s major investments in transport infrastructure were welcomed, scoring a B+.  

But doubt clouds the purpose of many projects, offering a clue as to why similar investments didn’t give the ­Coalition the expected electoral boost in 2019.

Professor Andy Marks is the director of the Centre for Western Sydney.

If the Sydney Metro West is about creating jobs in the West, respondents asked, why are the route’s stops overwhelmingly located in the East?

And what happened to the Sydney Olympic Park leg of the Parramatta Light Rail?

Clearly, Western Sydney voters are listening carefully to the reasoning behind major projects. When the reality appears to deviate, then trust suffers.

With its future now assured, the Powerhouse Parramatta commitment — championed by the Premier — was applauded under the report’s Society and Culture category, earning a B.

Alternatively, the Government scored a disappointing C in the Education and Participation category.

The digital divide that emerged during lockdown revealed a growing gap in schools resourcing. Equally, the schools building program is not matching growth in outer northern and southwestern Sydney. The Government has had 10 years to identify and fix this shortfall.

Rating a C- in ‘Housing and Community’, the NSW Government’s meagre social housing stimulus package was seen as a missed opportunity when compared to Victoria’s $5.4 billion ­investment. Tough competition.

A decade in Government brings invaluable experience. It can also betray signs of tiredness. The Mid Term Report Card shows that Western Sydney is prepared to reward experience, but only if it has cause to trust in the Government’s vision and commitments.

Dr Andy Marks is the director of the Centre for Western Sydney