NSW state election: ‘underdog’ Berejiklian getting her wish

With 12 days to go until NSW votes, Michael Daley looks on the way up and Gladys Berejiklian on the way down.

The worst sign of trouble at yesterday’s Liberal launch was when the Premier kept trying to get the crowd to chant “Liberals, Liberals, Liberals”, to a feeble response.

There at least was a heartier “Gladys, Gladys, Gladys” later.

Everyone knows the Liberal brand has been on the nose lately, worsened by the axing of another prime minister, and it was as if the crowd was reflecting the lack of enthusiasm for the brand.

By contrast, the Labor launch in another western Sydney marginal seat was pumped. “We can win this election!” Daley roared.

There were more signs of defensiveness by the Liberal launch decision not to let Scott Morrison speak. Labor, by contrast, was loud and proud with Bill Shorten.

There is now downright pessim­ism in the Coalition ranks and serious finger-pointing in the government — particularly at the Premier’s director of strategy, Brad Burden, a former Barry O’Farrell staffer — who is said to have been the person to advise the Premier to avoid the stadiums issue at all costs.

Burden, who started life as an Alan Jones producer, is one of those blamed for the absolute car wreck of a Berejiklian presser last Thursday when she refused for more than 20 minutes to mention the word “stadium”, even when Allianz Stadium was about to be knocked down ahead of a $730 million rebuild.

In case you weren’t listening yesterday, Berejiklian announced another $917m for school builds, $2 billion for hospital builds and $2bn for western Sydney airport rail lines. That brings the Liberal-Nationals schools and hospital infrastruct­ure spend to $14.5bn, more than seven times that being spent on stadiums.

The Premier had one big winner — a plan for more before- and after-school care to win her votes among women aged 35-50 — a group from which her government is struggling to get a vote.

Berejiklian has also turned to the one thing that really can still swing the election in her favour — the former Labor government.

It may be eight years on, but the thought of that government still stings the people of NSW. And why wouldn’t it, with its history of cancelled projects and scandals.

This is the best thing that the ­Coalition has going for it on Saturday week.

Because the problem for Berejiklian has always been that at this election she has everything to lose, while Daley has nothing to lose.

As one old-timer put it to me yesterday, Berejiklian’s team have been “trying not to lose” rather than “trying to win”.

After the Victorian election last November, Berejiklian drew a few smirks when she called herself the underdog. Now, thanks to a lousy campaign, she is starting to look like one.