There’s nothing like an election defeat to knock a political party out of complacency and start listening to the electorate.
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The timing of Premier Mike Baird’s late invitation on Friday to Save Our Rail to roundtable discussion on Newcastle’s future may have coincidentally come the day before
the Coalition’s historic loss in the Victorian election.
But those who want to save the rail link into the Newcastle CBD, or at least want to ensure the decision to truncate the rail at Wickham is free of the stench of corruption or political favouritism, it is a positive sign.
The Coalition was swept from power in Victoria after only one term in office.
It would take an unprecedented voter backlash for the NSW Coalition to face the same result.
But its healthy majority from 2011 has been cut, with seven former Coalition MPs now sitting on the crossbenches and two seats lost to Labor in Hunter-based by-elections.
Elections are won on voters’ perceptions as much as issues.
The Coalition’s stocks are incredibly low in the Hunter, with several MPs tainted by ICAC evidence on political donations from developers.
The closure of the Newcastle rail line at Wickham is largely perceived to be driven for the benefit of large developers.
Many voters are questioning whether government decisions are being made in the public’s or the developers’ interests.
Mr Baird is doing the right thing by seeking a mandate for proposed privatisation of power in the state.
Given the ICAC findings and level of division in the community, he should also seek a mandate on the railway issue.
