Barry O'Farrell softly-softly wins Labor's heart

NSW'S political panther padded his way into Labor's heartland yesterday.

Softly softly

NSW'S political panther padded his way into Labor's heartland yesterday, continuing his small-target strategy in areas that were once not his to roam.

Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell began his day of campaigning in the Labor-held western Sydney seat of Parramatta, where he borrowed from British and American conservative leaders by signing a "contract with NSW".

NSW Premier Kristina Keneally quickly derided the gesture as tokenistic and meaningless. But Mr O'Farrell said voters could "kick him up the backside" if he failed to deliver on the promises he made.

Throughout the campaign so far, and indeed in the months before, Mr O'Farrell has kept his public profile low. Ms Keneally has tried repeatedly to pin him for slinking around -- suggesting he is deceiving voters about his plans.

But in truth Mr O'Farrell is probably more concerned about spooking the electorate, seeing voters as already tired of stories of Labor lies and suspicious of the NSW government generally.

The point was illustrated yesterday in the Labor heartland seat of Smithfield, in western Sydney, where Mr O'Farrell toured a shopping centre in Wetherill Park with Liberal candidate Andrew Rohan.

The centre's owner, Ross Trimboli, said he had been visited by Mr Rohan and Labor's Ninos Khoshaba several times. Mr Khoshaba has held Smithfield since 2007; Mr Rohan needs at least a 15.5 per cent swing to win.

"I'm sick of the way things have been," Mr Trimboli said.

"There's got to be something better than what we have now."

Mr Trimboli said he was not dissatisfied with Mr Khoshaba specifically, but with the Labor government in general. However, he acknowledged the area had a strong Labor heritage -- the seat has never been otherwise held -- that would be difficult to break.

"People are telling me, 'If you're rich or well off, you're a Liberal -- Labor is for the battlers'," he said.

Strolling between shops and cafes in Wetherill Park yesterday, Mr O'Farrell had a low-key, handshake-and-chatter approach that was at odds with Ms Keneally's campaign fanfare. Mr O'Farrell may lack the Premier's charm and looks, but his party's brand is likely to be enough to carry him to victory on March 26. "I'm voting for you," a passer-by called out.

Local resident Cole Irwin agreed it was time to give the Coalition a go. "Labor needs to spend a little time thinking and rebuilding," he said.

However, fruit shop owner Hayder al-Hlow was sticking with what he knew.

"Khoshaba has been here for a few years -- I trust him now."