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If Baird goes, so will Abbott: Albanese

The battle for pre-selection also pits moderate Liberals against the party's right.

The battle for pre-selection also pits moderate Liberals against the party's right. Photo: AAP

If New South Wales Premier Mike Baird loses the state election this Saturday then Tony Abbott will also be out of a job, Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese has told reporters.

“If Mike Baird goes Tony Abbott will go,” Mr Albanese said on Thursday morning.

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His comments echo those of NSW opposition leader Luke Foley, who told a rally on Sunday: “If Mr Baird goes next Saturday, Mr Abbott goes on the Monday.”

Coalition governments in Victoria and Queensland have suffered first-term defeats in recent months, but opinion polls indicate that outcome isn’t likely in NSW on Saturday.

Despite hard anti-Abbott campaigning from Labor, Liberal premier Mike Baird is expected to be comfortably re-elected, and has an approval rating of 60 per cent.

A Morgan Poll released on Tuesday shows the Coalition government leads Labor on a two-party-preferred basis, 56 to 44 per cent.

Mr Baird’s re-election depends largely on a controversial plan to privatise the state’s electricity network, which promises to deliver a windfall of $20 billion to be spent on infrastructure.

– with AAP

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