Slow and steady has its own risks

BARRY O'Farrell and his Treasurer, Mike Baird, have established themselves as incrementalists rather than bold visionaries. Gone are the days of incoming leaders using their newfound mandate to make wholesale changes to the operation of government.

The deficit in year one caused by an honouring of election commitments is perhaps understandable, but the modest surplus the year after followed by slightly improved surpluses in years three and four aren't enough to withstand inevitable dipping into the coffers to fund future election commitments. This is why promises of a tough budget needed to be better met.

There are no expansive cuts to the public service, as happened in NSW when Nick Greiner became premier back in 1988.

There is no bold privatisation agenda as occurred in Jeff Kennett's Victoria after he took over a state on the verge of bankruptcy in 1992.

NSW Labor must stay in the political wilderness for this government to show the courage needed to keep on reforming, albeit incrementally.