Premier Chris Minns warns One Nation could play ‘big role’ in NSW Coalition government

Premier Chris Minns has warned voters not to risk handing power over to a divided opposition and “maybe one where One Nation plays a big role”.

NSW Labor are likely to face a challenging set of circumstances when voters return to the polls next year.

Mr Minns was speaking to NewsWire after four lower house seats were picked up by One Nation at the South Australia state election, but before an even bigger win for the right-wing populist party in the regional NSW federal seat of Farrer.

This means Labor could face a different kind of threat in 2027.

Fuel prices have only recently started to return to normal after a temporary excise cut was handed down by Canberra, with experts warning that infrastructure damage stemming from tit-for-tat strikes between Iran and the US will likely take years to fix.

That was only the latest blow for NSW residents, already facing rising cost of living and one of the world’s most restrictive housing markets.

Speaking to NewsWire, Mr Minns admitted it had been “a difficult period”, including interest rate rises and soaring inflation.

“These are essential parts of the family budget that have escalated exponentially,” he said.

“I don’t have control over the Strait of Hormuz. If I did, I promise you I’d open it.

“But, I think that there are things that you can do in NSW for families that are still important to help people in the short run and then solve some of the chronic problems in our economy and our community.”

Mr Minns said his pitch to voters in March 2027 would be a “centrist government that’s focused on families”.

“We’re a steady hand in uncertain times,” he said.

“It’s a risk to hand over to a divided opposition, maybe one where One Nation plays a big role.”

The Premier, who unseated the former Coalition government three years ago, noted his party’s move against privatisation and an increase in real wages of one per cent.

Other cost of living measures included expanding access to ADHD medications and the contraceptive pill.

“We’re changing the law in NSW so that you can go to an accredited chemist and get both the prescription and the medication (the pill),” he said.

“That, we hope, is as much a cost of living measure as it is a basic health measure for half the population.”

In NSW, One Nation surged to 30 per cent – ahead of Labor’s 25 per cent – according to a February poll by Roy Morgan.

“Any politician is concerned about the polls,” Mr Minns said.

“I always laugh when I used to see people on TV say, oh, we don’t care about the poll. Of course you do.

“I think the surging vote for One Nation is real. A lot of people are attracted to their policies.”

Mr Minns said the task for Labor and “political parties and governments like mine” was to “show progress and deliver”.

“In the long run, we believe our policies are right for the state,” he said, noting wage growth in the public sector.

“A lot of salaries in the private sector are pegged to public sector wages.

“We’ve seen over a reasonably short period in office a lift in salaries and conditions for public sector workers.

“If it’s done in a responsible way while also running a fiscally responsible budget, it means that people have got more cash in their back pocket to meet urgent expenses, to pay their mortgages, and to raise their families.

“We don’t make any apologies for it.”