‘Preferred’ Dominic Perrottet claws back ground as NSW election looms

Dominic Perrottet has extended his lead over Chris Minns as preferred NSW premier and is clawing back electoral ground, new polling reveals.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet on Tuesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Tim Hunter

Dominic Perrottet has extended his lead over Chris Minns as preferred NSW premier and is clawing back electoral ground, with new polling revealing cost of living, housing affordability and healthcare are the top priorities for voters.

Ahead of the March 25 state election, performance rankings of the NSW government have risen eight points to 43 per cent since November amid growing apathy among voters more focused on cost-of-living pressures.

An SEC-Newgate Research “Mood of the Nation” survey of more than 600 voters in NSW reveals Mr Perrottet leads Mr Minns as preferred premier by 34 to 27 per cent. But both leaders remain way down the list of priority issues for NSW voters, with 39 per cent declaring they had no preference ahead of next month’s poll.

The poll, conducted from February 1-6, reveals 80 per cent of NSW households are most concerned about cost-of-living pressures, led by grocery prices, petrol prices, electricity and gas bills, and interest rate rises. It found 56 per cent of voters believed NSW was “heading in the right direction”, up significantly from 48 per cent in November.

SEC-Newgate Research partner David Stolper said the poll suggests there is “no strong mood for change, with a desire for stability (23 per cent) outrating a desire for change (15 per cent)”.

“While behind in the published polls, the NSW government and Premier Dominic Perrottet are enjoying improved performance ratings ahead of the looming state election (albeit off a lower base compared to most other states),” Mr Stolper said.

“An increase in the proportion of NSW voters who feel NSW is heading in the right direction points to a tightening state election race, in spite of the growing pressures on household finances.

 

“The top three election priorities reflect national concerns: cost of living, rental affordability and healthcare.

“While there are large spends on infrastructure, investing in public transport is a relatively low priority currently (15 per cent).”

Mr Perrottet’s gaming reforms have attracted majority support, with 60 per cent backing the cashless gaming card and only 15 per cent opposed.

Analysis of the survey said those who support the reforms believe the cashless gaming card will “protect people from gambling addiction, while those who oppose see the reform as an unwarranted government intervention in people’s personal rights to gamble responsibly”.

“While only 7 per cent of people in NSW regard it as a top-five vote-determining issue for them, it does have a high media and political profile and it is a point of differentiation between the two major parties,” Mr Stolper said.

Across NSW, pessimism over the national economy in the short and medium term has fallen, with 49 per cent feeling it will deteriorate in three months compared with 56 per cent in November.