Pies and mocha: How Gladys Berejiklian and Michael Daley limber up on NSW election day
New South Wales will head to the polls on Saturday. Photo: AAP
Premier Gladys Berejiklian will order her usual skim mocha on Saturday morning as New South Wales wakes up to vote after a tumultuous election campaign.
For Opposition Leader Michael Daley, he’s made a habit out of visiting the same local pie shop every election day for 30 years.
Saturday will be no different now that he’s up for premier.
“I always make sure to stop and grab a classic beef pie from House of Pies in Matraville, I’ve been going there every election day for 30 years,” Mr Daley told The New Daily on Thursday.
“It’s a ritual of mine.”
Ms Berejiklian will be doing her normal routine before voting booths open at 8am.
“I’ll go through my usual morning routine of reading the newspaper clips, then I’ll grab a skim mocha and something to eat before I hit the road for a full day of campaigning,” the Premier said.
“I’ve already got a few options of what to wear but I’ll probably decide on the day.”
Polls have pointed to a hung parliament and Ms Berejiklian is expected to be best placed to form a minority government, though Labor could be within reach despite some last minute missteps from Mr Daley.
When campaigning takes its toll, Ms Berejiklian said she reaches out to loved ones.
“I listen to music on the radio or message my sisters and friends,” she said.
Not your average day in the office… 🐨
Cheeky Archer the koala visited Parliament to help us announce @NSWLabor’s $1.8 million boost in support for volunteer wildlife carers across NSW. pic.twitter.com/MIl6HnEb5o
— Michael Daley (@michaeldaleyMP) March 17, 2019
More than 20,000 baby 👶 bundles have been handed out across NSW since January 1, with 580 here at Liverpool Hospital. The baby bundle is providing practical help to families in a child’s first weeks. @MelGibbonsMP pic.twitter.com/RApZbhJEJ9
— Gladys Berejiklian (@GladysB) March 20, 2019
“I try and take some time every morning to have a cup of coffee and go over the morning papers, it gets you ready for the day ahead.”
Mr Daley does much the same.
Ms Berejiklian and Mr Daley are making their final pitches to the public before the last votes are cast at 6pm on Saturday.
Asked what she wanted the electorate to know as the campaign came to an end, Ms Berejiklian said she hoped to continue to see out her vision for the state.
“I want them to know that every day I go to work with the intention of making their lives better. I truly believe NSW is the greatest place in the world to live and I want to make it even better,” she said.
Describing herself in three words, the Premier said: “Getting things done.”
For Mr Daley, it was: “Putting people first.”
The North West Metro 🚆 opens in May and we are already tunnelling under the harbour for the next stage out to Bankstown. The progress of work here at Barangaroo is amazing. @AndrewConstance pic.twitter.com/moIf39HGut
— Gladys Berejiklian (@GladysB) March 20, 2019
“It’s time to return government in NSW back to the people who live in our city suburbs and live in the regions,” Mr Daley said.
“For too long people have been ignored by the Liberals and Nationals, whether you are living along the Sydney light rail corridor, the Westconnex or beside the dying Darling River.
“Government is about priorities, I’ll always put the needs of ordinary people above spending $2.2 billion in taxpayer funds on Sydney stadiums.”
Polls have predicted about 4.3 per cent of voters will swing away from the Coalition since the 2015 election.
We've just been for a walk around the Sydney Light Rail ‘war zone’ along Devonshire St.
Local business owner, Susan, has told me that residents and businesses are into their third year of damage, destruction and disruption.
And still, there’s no light rail in sight. pic.twitter.com/xTSdxBMOWv
— Michael Daley (@michaeldaleyMP) March 21, 2019
If Ms Berejiklian’s social media says anything, it’s that she wants the electorate to remember the government has $90 billion of infrastructure in the pipeline. She was riding the first of the new driverless trains this week and visiting construction sites in a hard hat.
She wants to be returned to government to finish off the projects, some of which have been sullied by major delays.
Mr Daley on Thursday sought to capitalise from those setbacks by walking through Surry Hills, where streets remain blocked off for the unpopular light rail construction.
Ms Berejiklian has taken every opportunity to stage photos with newborn babies, touting policies like free dental checkups for school children and the baby bundles.
Mr Daley meanwhile has been sharing photos with dogs and a selfie with a koala this week was an attempt to wedge the government on environmental protection.
The rain didn’t dampen our spirits in Crookwell today!
The #DaleyExpress visited the local hospital with our candidate terrific @ursulastephens to announce Labor's $250 million plan for small country hospitals & multi-purpose services. pic.twitter.com/6ILp1gV107
— Michael Daley (@michaeldaleyMP) March 18, 2019
He had backed the students skipping school for the mass climate change protests, while Ms Berejiklian said they shouldn’t be missing out on class.
Both parties have promised to put solar panels on more homes, with Labor offering rebates for 500,000 homes compared to Ms Berejiklian’s promise to 300,000 households.
Most of all, Mr Daley has hammered voters with the promise he’d put hospitals and schools above the $729 million Sydney Football Stadium rebuild.
Mr Daley took out front-page advertisements on Chinese-Australian newspapers. Photo: AAP
Mr Daley flunked a televised live debate against the premier on Wednesday, when he failed to articulate basic details about key Labor policies.
He couldn’t recall how much he’s pledged for schools and TAFE at the Sky News and Daily Telegraph peoples forum, later blaming the fumble on the pressures of live debate.
The Labor leader has spent this week walking-back comments he made last year – when he was still deputy leader – after leaked video revealed he told voters in the Blue Mountains that young people would “flee” Sydney and be replaced by educated Asian workers.
Days after the video surfaced, Mr Daley took out front-page advertisements on several Chinese-Australian newspapers.
The missteps could be enough to secure the next four years for Ms Berejiklian, likely in a minority government.