Liberals brace for voter backlash in Sydney by-elections

THE NSW Premier has admitted the state government will be battered in the NSW by-elections, with the Libs in serious danger of losing safe seats.

The Premier with Liberal North Shore candidate Felicity Wilson at the polls today.

PREMIER Gladys Berejiklian admits the state government will be battered in today’s NSW by-elections, with the Liberals in serious danger of losing their safe North Shore seat and facing a massacre in Manly.

Ms Berejiklian pounded the Corso and Mosman’s posh cafes yesterday in a last-ditch bid to shore up support in the areas — both long-held Liberal seats that could fall to independents.

The electorates go to the polls following the mid-term resignations of former health minister Jillian Skinner and ex-premier Mike Baird. Gosford is also holding a by-election and Paralympic champ Liesl Tesch is expected to sail home there for Labor.

Liberal North Shore candidate Felicity Wilson with Premier Gladys Berejiklian today.

“By-elections are never easy — I am bracing myself for huge swings against the government,” Ms Berejiklian admitted.

“In by-elections you expect people to be a bit rash when they go to the ballot box because they know you will still be the premier on Monday … and people don’t mind giving you a message — I accept that. I think it will come down to the wire.”

The Premier was well-received as she hit the streets, posing for selfies, gladhanding commuters and greeting tourists in three different languages.

It comes after the latest Newspoll showed Ms Berejiklian is personally popular with voters but Labor is a strong chance to win the next state election, which is due in 2019.

Government sources told The Saturday Telegraph they are “worried” about losing North Shore today but expect to win Manly, albeit with a massive reduction to the Liberals’ 24.5 per cent margin.

Liberal North Shore candidate Felicity Wilson was forced to defend herself yesterday after she made misleading statements about how long she had lived in the area.

Originally published as Liberals brace for voter backlash in Sydney by-elections