Live: NSW to decide next government as election day picks up steam

After a notable absence during the state’s election, the former Prime Minister has made a last-minute appearance on the campaign trail.

NSW voters have hit the polls as they decide who will lead Australia’s biggest state for the next four years.

Democracy sausages began sizzling away on barbecues from 8am on Saturday, with familiar faces appearing at polling booths across the state.

More than one million people have already entered their vote after early polling opened a week ago.

Dominic Perrottet, who became premier 18 months ago following Gladys Berejiklian’s resignation, is hoping to defy the odds and lead the Liberal-Nationals coalition to a record fourth term.

But Labor’s Chris Minns is likely to be NSW’s next premier with The Australian Newspoll, released on Saturday, pointing to Labor securing a narrow majority government.

Scott Morrison finally makes election appearance

Former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison has emerged on the NSW state election trail for the first time.

Mr Morrison shared a photo with incumbent Cronulla MP Mark Speakman and Miranda MP Eleni Petinos, who are both contesting their seats in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire.

Notably John Howard has been the only Liberal party alumni involved in Mr Perrottet’s campaign. The Liberal elder was spotted in the crowd of the official Liberal party launch and made of speech at the final Liberal rally, six days out from polling day.

Scott Morrison took a snap with state Liberal MPs Mark Speakman and Eleni Petinos. Picture: Instagram @scottmorrisonmp

Federal Liberal leader Peter Dutton has not made a single appearance on the NSW campaign trail, instead focusing on campaigning for the federal Melbourne seat of Aston.

While appearing on Sunrise on Saturday Mr Perrottet made a last minute dig at his opponent for hitting the campaign trail with Mr Albanese.

He had been asked why he had been seen campaigning with Mr Dutton and replied: “I don’t need a wing man”.

“This is an election on NSW issues. It is a NSW election. I am focused on the issues that matter to people across our state.”

Albo casts vote and smashes sausage sizzle

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese tried to avoid an awkward moment while at a polling station by turning away from cameras as he chomped down on a democracy sausage.

He was in the Ryde electorate, in northwest Sydney, to support Labor candidate Lyndal Howison on Saturday to help with the campaign when he decided to indulge in the election treat.

Albo eats a sausage sizzle. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

Fellow Labor MPs snickered at the scene. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

As cameras zoomed in on him taking a bite, Mr Albanese quickly turned away.

“They’re going to try and get the sausage shot. It’s not going to happen,” he said.

Politicians eating sausages has long been a source of entertainment, with a picture of Opposition leader Peter Dutton eating a Dagwood dog making headlines last year.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton eating a Dagwood dog making headlines last year Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Ex-Labor leader Bill Shorten caused outrage in 2016 when he was pictured chomping down on a sausage sandwich in a “strange” manner.

Mr Shorten opted to eat the sandwich from the middle rather than the end.

‘Scum’: Liberal candidates signs vandalised

Voters rocking up to cast their vote in the eastern beaches were shocked to find a Liberal candidates’ posters had been vandalised overnight.

“Scum” and “racist” was scrawled across core flutes displaying Dr Kylie von Muenster’s face.

Absolutely disgraceful behaviour in Coogee today. Everyone has the right to display electoral material and all volunteers and candidates deserve to be treated with respect. #nswpolpic.twitter.com/hza5n49Sqw

— Chris Rath (@ChrisRathMLC) March 25, 2023

“Absolutely disgraceful behaviour in Coogee today,” Liberal MLC Chris Rath tweeted alongside the photos.

“Everyone has the right to display electoral material and all volunteers and candidates deserve to be treated with respect.”

Minns’ worries about ‘turning off’ voters

Mr Minns opened up about how he likes his “democracy sausage” and confessed it may just put some voters off.

He told reporters he likes grilled onions with mustard and tomato sauce.

Labor leader Chris Minns has revealed he is worried his controversial ‘democracy sausage’ might turn off voters. Picture: Supplied

Minns puts onion, mustard and tomato sauce on his sanga. Picture: Twitter

“I’m controversially going with mustard and tomato, I’m worried that’s going to turn off a few voters,” he said.

“I don’t know, I’m worried about it now.”

Bill Shorten chomping into a democracy sausage. Picture: Nine News

He managed to avoid any awkward facials while tucking in, unlike a number of pollies before him.

Dom votes with bub in arms

Mr Perrottet arrived at Beecroft Public School with his youngest daughter Celeste in his arms and wife Helen by his side.

Saturday marked the first time the sitting Premier placed a vote in an election where he is running for the top job.

“Big day for her yesterday but she had a lot of fun,” Mr Perrottet told Sky News of his daughter who also joined him on the final day of the campaign trail.

“Celeste got through seven [of the eight stops].”

She was later seen sleeping in her mum’s arms.

He said it was a typical busy Saturday morning in the Perrottet household, with some of his six other children heading off to birthday parties, while he is out and about on the big day.

Premier Dominic Perrottet casting his vote with wife Helen and youngest daughter Celeste. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

The family purchased seven cupcakes at the stall – one for each of his children. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

It is the first time the Premier has voted while he is gunning for the top job. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

Perrottet and Minns hit the polls

Both leaders were out and about as soon as polls opened on Saturday.

Despite the mounting pressure, Mr Minns said he had a full night’s sleep the night before.

“It was pretty good. One of the first nights in a while,” he told the Today show.

“I don’t know whether that’s a good or bad omen. We’re on the booths right and early. Just rallying everybody to get out and vote for the local candidates. It’s time for a change.”

Despite the promising Newspoll results, Mr Minns said he wasn’t taking anything for granted.

“I can promise everybody who is watching at home today, we are taking absolutely nothing for granted.

The Australian’s Newspoll is pointing to Chris Minns leading Labor to a majority win on Saturday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

“We know it’s the people of NSW decisions and basically polls at this point aren’t worth anything because people actually have to get out and vote. So we’re hopeful.

“We’re going into this election with a hungry but humble philosophy, if you like, but it’s up to the people of NSW and we’re fighting for every vote.”

When asked whether he would be willing to work with the crossbench, Mr Minns said they were not “interested in doing deals with crossbenchers particularly before anyone has been elected”.

“The horse-trading that people have been alluding to over the last week, I don’t think it’s appropriate when people haven’t had a chance to vote, haven’t had a chance to have their say about who should govern NSW.”

Labor needs to win nine seats to win

The Coalition government holds 45 seat – 33 for the Liberals and 12 for the Nationals, Labor 36, the Greens three, while there are nine independents, including two former Liberal MPs.

Labor went into Saturday’s election needing to win at least nine seats to claim government. 

But Newspoll’s two-party-preferred result of 54.5-45.5 represents a 6.5 per cent swing against the Coalition, which would give Labor up to 10 extra seats.

That would give Labor the 47 seats for a majority without the support of the crossbench, but a uniform swing is doubtful.

In another boost for Labor, Mr Minns has scored a two-point leader as preferred premier over Mr Perrottet for the first time in this Newspoll. 

Labor leader Chris Minns (right) won the votes over Premier Dominic Perrottet at the Sky News/Daily Telegraph People’s Forum on Wednesday. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Mr Minns, who was relatively unknown going into the campaign, scored a big win in the final debate of the campaign on Wednesday, when he and Mr Perrottet met head-to-head in the Sky News / The Daily Telegraph People’s Forum.

Out of 100 undecided voters, 48 said they had been swayed to vote for the Opposition, 32 chose the Coalition and 20 remained undecided.

Both leaders were campaigning hard right up to the end on Friday.

Crunch time

If the coalition loses Saturday’s election, it will mean every mainland state and federal government will be Labor. Only Tasmania will have a Liberal government.

Anthony Albanese has joined Chris Minns several times on the election trail. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

The NSW Electoral Commission says 1,199,121 million people had already voted by Friday. Voting on Saturday closes at 6pm.

Counting will start immediately and finish at 10.30pm and resume on Monday.