Berejiklian “weak” on One Nation: Secord
NSW Labor frontbencher Walt Secord has labelled NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian as “weak”, due to her failure to refuse to rule out preference deals with One Nation.
Mr Secord said One Nation policies and its leader Pauline Hanson were “divisive” and he criticised Ms Berejiklian for refusing to distance herself from One Nation in the forthcoming State election.
“It is very disappointing to see Gladys Berejiklian cosying up to One Nation – especially when she trots out her personal story as a migrant on every possible occasion. I am very surprised by her actions,” Mr Secord said.
In a November 7 Sydney press conference, Ms Berejiklian was asked seven times whether she would engage in a preference deal with One Nation – and she refused.
This was after NSW Labor Opposition Leader Luke Foley immediately ruled out a preference deal after it was revealed former Federal Labor leader Mark Latham had joined One Nation – and was planning to run as its number one candidate for the NSW Legislative Council in late-March 2019.
“NSW Labor will not do any preference deals with One Nation,” Mr Foley tweeted and said in the media.
“We will not preference One Nation candidates anywhere in NSW.”
“I challenge the Liberals and the Nationals to make the same commitment,” Mr Secord said.
During a press conference, Ms Berejiklian was asked what she thought of Mr Latham joining the party during a doorstop in Seven Hills, she said: “We have a healthy democracy here in NSW but my focus is to lead a strong and stable government, my job is to keep delivering on the ground”.
Asked seven times whether the Coalition would consider a deal as voters prepare to head to the polls in March, Ms Berejiklian dodged questions by insisting she is focused on her job, not the “politics of politics”.
Asked whether she was reluctant to rule out a deal because of the possibility of a minority government with One Nation holding the balance of power, Ms Berejiklian said: “I’m focused on my job — I’m not focused on the politics of politics”.
Furthermore, Mr Secord predicted that the Nationals and the conservative side of politics could lose several NSW Upper House seats to One Nation in a Trump-style result from angry rural voters.
“Even before Mark Latham stepped on the stage, the Orange and Wagga by-election results showed that rural voters have their cricket bats poised at the ready for the NSW Coalition. This is why Gladys Berejiklian is refusing to distance herself from One Nation.”