DEPUTY Premier Troy Grant believes his government will not face the same upsets of recent elections in Queensland and Victoria, where first term Coalition governments were booted out by dissatisfied voters.
"Queensland's election result was no doubt a worrying verdict on the Liberal National Party of Queensland's first-term in government," Mr Grant said.
"It's a result I am confident we will avoid in NSW, because the manner in which the Queensland and Victorian governments have undertaken their rebuilding tasks differs greatly to how we have done so in NSW.
"I believe that distinction is known and understood in communities across NSW."
In rural and regional NSW, in particular, Mr Grant was confident the government had delivered for voters.
"I place great faith in the individuals and families who make up regional NSW to determine, if four years on, we have delivered on all of our commitments.
"In my own electorate I have seen hospitals rising from the ground, new roads and a positive change in the local economy. I believe the key difference is the NSW Liberals and Nationals have delivered and we know there is more to do."
Part of this was through Restart NSW, the government's infrastructure fund.
"We ensured our regions were given 30 per cent of this funding for vital road and infrastructure projects," he said.
"This makes sense as our regional communities represent one third of our state's population."
The program Rebuilding NSW, in which $6 billion out of the $20 billion raised from leasing the metropolitan electricity networks would go towards regional infrastructure, should the government be re-elected, would add to the tally.
"(This) will fund game-changing investments in roads, rail, water security, health, education and tourism projects."
Another key policy that depends on re-election is the repeal of the Native Vegetation Act, which Mr Grant confirmed would occur with new draft legislation ready by November.
Even if the government is re-elected, however, both these key policies could face problems if the make-up of the Upper House changes too much.
Labor and the Greens have stated they will oppose scrapping the Native Vegetation Act, while the Shooters and Fishers Party opposes the privatisation of poles and wires.
Mr Grant said there was a message for voters there.
"We will work with the parties in the Upper House, as we have done over the last term in government," he said.
"However, the choice for regional and rural communities is clear - only a vote for the NSW Liberals and Nationals in both the Lower and Upper Houses will see a clear result and pass this legislation through Parliament."
Roderick Makim
Senior journalist for The Land.
Senior journalist for The Land.
