Mark who? NSW voters clueless about who Mark Speakman is

Voters overwhelmingly have no idea who is leading the fight against Premier Chris Minns in parliament, with less than 10 per cent of voters asked being able to identify Opposition Leader Mark Speakman.

Mark Speakman has some work to do to become a household name and face. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

NSW MP Mark Speakman has made light of a snap survey by The Daily Telegraph in four Western Sydney electorates which revealed only nine per cent of respondents recognised the opposition leader.

“Well one said I was very handsome,” he joked to Ben Fordham’s 2GB breakfast show on Thursday morning.

“It’s just a reminder to me and my colleagues we’ve got to be out there working and making sure the public knows that we’re on the job, putting up their interests and keeping this government to account.

“There’s plenty that this government is failing to do and we’ve just got to keep them to account… We’ve seen an absence of candour on the reason for the Opera House lighting up not happening, broken election promises on active kids, no privatisation or no tax increases.”

The Daily Telegraph’s survey showed voters overwhelmingly have no idea who is leading the fight against Premier Chris Minns in parliament, increasing internal pressure on Mr Speakman ahead of Labor’s crucial first budget.

NSW Liberal Opposition Leader Mark Speakman with his dog Lucy. Picture: Tim Hunter

Of 100 people asked, just nine could recognise him from a photo. The results reinforce internal party research, recounted to the Telegraph, which has found Mr Speakman faces a “brand awareness” problem with voters.

According to a source familiar with the research, while the Liberal leader’s favourability is “quite high,” not many people know who he is.

The source argued that the research showed the Liberal Party was gaining on the Minns government, suggesting that the Premier’s net “favourability” rating has recently tanked by 70 per cent.

Multiple Liberals yesterday said that while Mr Speakman has brought a welcome “risk averse” attitude to the party, they questioned whether he will be the right man to lead the party to the next election in 2027.

Rossana Parisi and Rachel Lombardo both couldn’t tell who was in the photo. Picture: Jonathan Ng

One said that while Mr Speakman was the right man to lead the party right now, only “time will tell” if he will still be in the top job in almost four years’ time.

Mr Speakman is seen among his colleagues as “safe” and “steady”.

Liberals argued that those qualities have been positive attributes as the party sought to rebuild after the March election loss.

Opposition Leader Mark Speakman. Picture John Grainger

However, Liberals increasingly believe the Opposition should be scoring more political hits against the government.

The overwhelming view among parliamentary Liberals is that Mr Speakman has the “job that no-one wants,” and it is not unusual that he is unknown.

“It’s not his fault,” one senior Liberal said.

“Unless he runs naked across the Harbour Bridge, it’s going to take time (for him to become familiar). Everyone just needs to be patient and keep working,” the source said.

The Minns government came to power by winning a handful of crucial Western Sydney electorates from the Liberals.

One of those was Camden, where Labor’s Sally Quinnell ousted incumbent Liberal Peter Sidgreaves and secured a 10.3 per cent swing.

Of the 25 people the Telegraph spoke to on the streets of Camden, none knew who Mr Speakman was when shown his photograph.

“Is he the mayor of our area?” asked 23 year old paralegal Rosanna Parisi.

Solicitor Rachel Lombardo, 27, didn’t recognise his photo, but did know his name when prompted.

“I know his name – I read things, I don’t watch things.”

Robert Campbell thought Mr Speakman was an ABC journalist. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Rick Usher thought he was looking at Chris Minns. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Another Camden local, retired Alan Smith, 74, said: “I know the face but I don’t know who it is. I don’t know his name.”

Robert Campbell, who has run the Looking Class menswear shop on Camden’s main strip for more than 40 years, said when shown the photo: “Is he one of the reporters on the ABC?”

Retired Camden local Rick Usher, said Mr Speakman looked like Premier Chris Minns.

“He’s one of our local members isn’t he? … That looks like Minns,” he said.

Of the 25 people The Daily Telegraph spoke to in Penrith – won by Labor’s Karen McKeown in March — no one could recognise Mr Speakman when shown a photo. None of the 25 knew who the NSW opposition leader was.

“Is he a missing person?” Penrith mum Pamela Jansem asked upon seeing a photo of Mr Speakman.

Terry Moran said he’s never seen Mr Speakman before. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Kylie Beckers was one of the few people who recognised him. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Penrith local Terry Moran, 84, has lived in the Penrith electorate all his life. While he knew the former member Stuart Ayres, Mr Speakman was a complete enigma.

“I’ve never seen this man before, but he’s very handsome,” Mr Moran said.

In Panania, five out of 25 respondents knew who Mr Speakman was. Panania makes up the East Hills electorate won by Labor’s Kylie Wilkinson with a 1.3 per cent margin from Liberal incumbent Wendy Lindsay.

One of those was Kylie Beckers, an office manager at Regents Park Public School.

“I saw his noggin on TV the other day. He might have to up his profile a little bit,” she said.

In Rouse Hill, in the electorate of Riverstone, four of 25 people recognised Mr Speakman as a politician when shown his photo.

Two knew he was a Liberal and none were able to remember his name.

Riverstone locals Jade and her friend Bek, are both interested in politics and while neither knew Mr Speakman’s name the 23-year-olds did know he was a Liberal politician.

“It’s not Dominic Perrottet, but he’s definitely a politician of some sort – Liberal I think,” Jade said.

Mr Speakman defended his leadership last night, declaring that he will be leading the Coalition to the 2027 election.

“Households and families are struggling under Labor’s cost of living crisis, so it’s not surprising that they may not be focused on individual NSW politicians,” he said.

“It’s already increasingly clear to the people of NSW that this is an arrogant government, breaking its promises and without any vision.”

Mr Speakman will next Thursday face one of the first major tests for an Opposition leader, when he makes his budget-in-reply speech.

Originally published as Mark who? NSW voters clueless about who Mark Speakman is