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Two new polls counsel the NSW Coalition authorities has closed the hole on Labor, placing the state on monitor for a minority authorities.
The Newspoll survey of 1014 voters printed in The Australian on Monday confirmed main help for Labor has fallen by 4 proportion factors since September to 36 p.c, whereas the Coalition has gained two factors to 37 p.c.
Labor leads the two-party most well-liked vote 52-48.
If replicated uniformly on March 25, each main events would fall in need of the 47 seats wanted for majority authorities and be pressured to depend on cross bench help.
A second ballot printed on Monday painted a considerably rosier image for Labor however indicated the effective line Opposition Chief Chris Minns should stroll to topple Premier Dominic Perrottet.
The Australian Monetary Evaluate survey of 1247 voters put Labor on a 53-47 two-party-preferred foundation, backed by a main vote of 39 p.c.
However, Mr Perrottet enjoyed a double-digit lead in the preferred premier stakes in both polls and a positive net approval rating in Newspoll.
The AFR poll shows the living costs and standards (71 per cent) and housing and accommodation (45 per cent) are at the forefront of voters’ minds.
Meanwhile, Mr Perrottet denied secretly sneaking through an energy tax after notice of a $138 million levy for the year to June 2024 on electricity network providers was published on Friday afternoon.
The cost equates to about $37 per bill.
Mr Perrottet said the fee was part of the 2020 law that enabled the government’s 20-year $30 billion Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, which would eventually bring electricity bills down an average of $130.
“Our roadmap sets up long-term reliable energy and affordable energy for the people of our state,” he told Sydney radio 2GB on Monday.
Labor’s energy spokesperson Jihad Dib accused Energy Minister Matt Kean of a cover-up.
“We are in a cost of living crisis compounded by an energy crisis,” he said.
“Not only is Matt Kean making it worse, he doesn’t want you to know about it.”
Labor has also attacked Mr Perrottet’s expansion of a signature housing affordability policy.
The plan revealed by Mr Perrottet on Sunday would enable first home buyers to continue choosing between an up-front stamp duty payment or an annual land tax on their family home for life.
They could also apply the land tax to one investment property.
“Stamp duty is a terrible tax,” Mr Perrottet said.
But the announcement was seized on by Labor as a clear indication that the premier could further expand the scheme to all homes.
“[Mr Perrottet] is indicating to the people of NSW that he wants to expand the land tax on the family home – something that we’ve never had in NSW before,” Mr Minns said.
Labor has proposed raising the stamp duty concession for first home buyers buying property to $800,000 and offering a discount rate for homes up to $1 million.
-AAP
