State election 2023: Flat battery brings Liberal party’s campaign bus to a halt

A second bus bungle has hit the NSW campaign trail, with a mechanical fault leaving media and staffers stranded in Sydney’s northwest.

The bus bungles that struck Labor this week have now hit the Liberals.

While Labor’s western Sydney-built, electricity powered bus came to a halt earlier this week after an issue with its charger, the Liberal’s diesel-powered vessel broke down on Thursday.

It left media and staff stranded in Eastwood for more than an hour after Premier Dominic Perrottet walked through the town centre meeting locals.

The morning after Sky News and the Daily Telegraph’s people’s forum was resoundingly won by Chris Minns, the charge was sucked out of Mr Perrottet’s campaign – with a mechanic telling The Telegraph a “flat battery” had left the bus stuck in its tracks.

Media were ferried on to a new bus.

Media unload from the Liberal’s campaign bus after it broke down on Thursday. Picture: The Daily Telegraph/ Lachlan Leeming

It came after Mr Perrottet spent the second last day before the election visiting Liberal seats in Drummoyne and then Ryde.

Accompanied by wife Helen and Liberal’s Ryde candidate Jordan Lane, the Premier posed for selfies as he walked through the streets of Eastwood.

His reception was kicked off with a band of Korean drummers, which followed the Premier through several streets.

Of interest was at least one drummer’s instrument which was emblazoned with a “CFMEU – 100 per cent union” sticker – traditionally affiliated with Labor.

Premier slams medical record leak

The Premier has slammed the leaking of his family’s medical records after it was revealed he called NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard after his wife suffered a medical incident.

Mr Perrottet rejected the idea the ambulance that picked his wife Helen up had been diverted from a higher priority job.

“That is not correct. And that is not the advice I’ve received,” he said.

“The fact that any individual’s private medical records were leaked is completely unacceptable and I think every fair minded person across NSW looking at this story would feel that if they had their private health records released … how wrong that would be.”

Since the revelation, both the Premier and Health Services Union (HSU) chief, Gerard Hayes condemned the “unconscionable” privacy breach, which saw sensitive information leaked.

NSW premier Dominic Perrottet has hit out at the leaking of his family’s private health information. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Just two days out from the election, Mr Perrottet spent Thursday morning in Drummoyne with Liberal candidate Steph Di Pasqua.

Ms Di Pasqua is currently on leave from her job as an electoral officer for incumbent MP and suspended Liberal John Sidoti, who was found by ICAC to have engaged in serious corrupt last year.

Mr Perrottet denied his presence meant the seat was at risk.

“I’m not taking any vote for granted. I’m moving all around NSW because it’s the Liberals and Nationals with the long term economic plan to take our state forward and that is all at risk under Labor,” he said.

The Premier had earlier announced $500,000 to upgrade facilities at a Drummoyne sporting field, before launching into what he planned to do in his first 100 days of re-elected.

Mr Perrottet said his priorities were reducing energy bills by $250, cutting the weekly Opal cap from $50 to $40, opening registration for the kids’ future fund, expanding the first homebuyers’ choice reforms and kicking off his gambling reform package.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet campaigned with candidate for Drummoyne Stephanie Di Pasqua (left) in Five Dock on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire POOL/Bianca De Marchi

On Tuesday, Mr Perrottet was quizzed by Sky News journalist Sharri Markson if Mr Hazzard or NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan had arranged an ambulance. When asked, Mr Perrottet said he was “not sure” who made the call.

He said he called Mr Hazzard while he was in a meeting with Mr Morgan. Both advised him to go “straight home” and told him he needed an ambulance.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet admitted to calling Health Minister Brad Hazzard while his wife was in pain. Picture: Edwina Pickles/ POOL

During the call, Mr Hazzard asked for Mr Perrottet’s address; however, the Premier said he was only told on Wednesday that it was Mr Morgan who called emergency services.

“I’ve been completely transparent in relation to the situation. Never at all did I seek to get any treatment ahead of anyone else and that’s been proven by Dom Morgan,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

“My wife was in immense pain. I spoke to Brad, it was a low-order priority. I’m sure the commissioner can provide a statement in relation to that situation.”

Mr Perrottet with his wife Helen and daughter Celeste. Picture: NCA/NewsWire/Natalie Grono

Leaked records condemned by Premier, HSU

While Mr Perrottet said he was unaware who leaked his family’s medical records, he denounced the action.

“I don’t believe that anyone’s private medical records should be leaked. That’s not about Helen, that’s about anyone’s private records,” he said.

“She was crying, she couldn’t move, she was lying in bed. She almost blacked out going to the bathroom.”

HSU Secretary Gerard Hayes also condemned the privacy breach, and said releasing health information of family members was “unconscionable”.

“Elections are rough and tumble affairs and that’s to be expected. However, the private health information of a politician’s family should never be politicised,” Mr Hayes said.

“If there have been abuses of process, then these can be reported and investigated.

“We often disagree with the Premier. In fact right now we are in the midst of industrial action. But the sensitive health information of his family is totally off limits.”

During Mr Perrottet’s interview with Markson, he was pressed multiple times over why he called Mr Hazzard over a doctor or an ambulance.

“Do you understand that most people in NSW wouldn’t have the access to call the health minister or ambulance commissioner when they need an ambulance?” she asked.

Mr Perrottet only found out today that NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan had called an ambulance to his home. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

A Bureau of Health Information report released earlier this month found ambulance wait times had decreased in the October to December 2022 quarter, after peaking in April to June 2022.

During the most recent quarter, ambulances responded to Priority 1A (the highest) calls on an average of 8.4 minutes, Priority P1 calls in 14.5 minutes and P2 calls in 26.1 minutes.

This comes as NSW paramedics have begun a week-long revolt against rules that require them to stay with non-urgent patients until they are transferred to hospital staff.

Instead, they will leave low-risk and non-urgent cases unattended so they can respond to emergency calls.