The Coalition will be returned for a third straight term, but it is still unclear whether Berejiklian will be forced to form a minority government. Seven seats remain unconfirmed on Saturday night, with the government needing to pick up four to maintain a majority.
Gladys Berejiklian becomes the first woman to win a NSW election as leader. Speaking now on @abcnews
— Annabel Crabb (@annabelcrabb) March 23, 2019
NSW Labor, led by Michael Daley had a disastrous result, failing to pick up a single seat from the government. Daley’s campaign was plagued when footage emerged last week of him suggesting that young people were being forced to “flee” Sydney because their jobs were being taken by educated Asians.
Despite this, Daley declared he was proud of his and his team’s efforts and intended to remain leader.
Morris Iemma says he’s never seen a worse final week in an election campaign than the one Michael Daley just had #nswvotes
— Bevan Shields (@BevanShields) March 23, 2019
During her victory speech, Berejiklian said she was “incredibly proud of the wonderful place in which we live.”
She noted the possibility of a minority government, but assured the electorate she’d make it work. “Whether or not my government is a majority or minority government, we will work closely with the three minority parties in the New South Wales government which is so important for NSW,” she said.
“For the first time in nearly half a century the people of NSW have seen fit to give us a third term in government.”
She added that the Liberal Party had not conceded a single seat to Labor and that in some seats there’d even been a “swing to the government.”
Before thanking her mum, dad and sisters. Berejiklian highlighted the significance of her win and her gratitude in NSW for being a state willing to elect a woman from a migrant background as Premier.
In her victory speech, Gladys Berejiklian says NSW is a state where someone “with a long surname and a woman” can be elected premier. #NSWDecides
— Josephine Tovey (@Jo_Tovey) March 23, 2019
“What is most important to me is that, no matter what your background – where you live, what your circumstances – everybody in this state has the chance to be their best.
“A state in which someone with a long surname – and a woman – can be the premier of NSW.”