Berejiklian finally settles on ‘pressure’ message

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian speaking to the media at Cobbity on Monday. Picture: Adam Yip

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has taken almost two years to come up with a theme for the election but yesterday she repeated something that has been emblazoned on her campaign bus: “Taking the pressure off you.”

Berejiklian, who colleagues have said for months needed to do more to come up with a narrative, told reporters her mission was not only to keep building infrastructure (her slogan “Let’s get it done”) but also “We’re about taking pressure off families.”

The focus groups appear to have come in with that cost-of-living chestnut they so often do these days.

“Taking the pressure off you” (very similar to Labor leader Michael Daley’s “Putting people first”) incidentally has come into the campaign in the form of an increase in Active Kids sports vouchers from $100 to $200 and giving pensioners in the bush $250 cards for fuel and transport costs.

The problem for Berejiklian is that — as well as she appears to be going in Sydney — a lot of what determines whether her government falls into minority (requiring just six seat losses) or whether Labor falls into minority government on March 23, is almost out of her control.

It’s in Nationals seats of Barwon, Upper Hunter, Tweed, Lismore and Coffs Harbour that the government is in most trouble.

Berejiklian has made her own missions to the north coast.

But ultimately, as one senior Liberal said yesterday, billions have been spent on the bush but to no avail.

So, like the infamous Jeff Kennett loss that occurred because of the regions in the Victorian election in 1999, if the Coalition was to lose this election or fall into minority government, it would all be because of the regions — and bizarrely the north coast — rather than Sydney.

Realistically, the Liberals fear losing only two seats in Sydney — Coogee and East Hills — and perhaps in a worst-case scenario two more — Penrith and one other, such as Heathcote.

They hope they can snatch a seat back, such as The Entrance.

Penrith, according to internal polling, is reported to be narrowly in Sports Minister Stuart Ayres’ favour.

With three weeks to go, anything can happen but what Berejiklian probably needs to calm the troops is a Newspoll which shows a lead of 52-48, rather than the 50-50 statewide it presently shows.