Chris Minns, the leader of the opposition in New South Wales, has acknowledged that he is both “nervous” and “excited” about the next state election.
It’s been a great team effort, he remarked, and it’s a major push for us.
Prior to the vote on Saturday, the Coalition government’s polling lead over the Labor opposition has been shrinking.
Minns addressed the violence that broke out yesterday evening outside a Sydney church where state One Nation leader Mark Latham was scheduled to speak in a wide-ranging interview on Today.
This is sad because all parties showed respect during the election campaign, he remarked.
“I would want to see a campaign without any scenes, where people can share their opinions with the people of NSW and ask them to make calls,” said the speaker.
In addition, Minns mentioned the state’s concerns in the fields of health and education.
There has never been more demand on teachers, he said.
“The number of high school graduates deciding to pursue a degree in education at a university has decreased by 30%.
“We must increase that number. The school needs teachers. There is no replacement if we don’t have them.
Minns responded to Premier Dominic Perrottet’s admission that he phoned the ambulance commissioner when his wife need medical attention by saying that he took Perrottet at his word that he did not ask for or receive any “special favors.”
Yet, he declared that he would “knock” the state’s health system as a whole.
One in ten patients in NSW emergency rooms must wait 18 hours to be admitted to a ward, according to Minns.
“There is no doubt that the NSW health system is in turmoil.”
In addition, Minns defended setting aside funds to close the wage gap in the public sector even as the state struggled with an ongoing crisis related to the cost of living.
We will enter the negotiations with rigorous guidelines, he added, adding that any hikes above those must be balanced off by budget savings and productivity gains.
Minns only mentioned that it was a “tricky policy area” when speaking about the contentious subject of pokies and problem gambling.
“There are a number of measures for responsible gaming, the termination of signage outside pubs and clubs, the banning of political donations from clubs,” he said.
