The SMH argues that voters in their electorates of Manly and North Shore have sent a clear message to the coalition and the result is confirmation that the "it's time factor" is building.
Gladys Berejiklian has narrowly survived her first test as NSW premier as voters walked away from the Liberal Party.
While Labor increased its margin in the Central Coast seat of Gosford, Liberals James Griffin and Felicity Wilson will take their seats in Macquarie Street with severely reduced margins for their party.
The SMH points out that voters in their electorates of Manly and North Shore respectively have sent a clear message to the coalition and the result is confirmation that the "it's time factor" is building.
According to the SMH the primary vote swings against the Liberals were 15.4 per cent in North Shore and 24.7 per cent in Manly, it's a very hard slap nonetheless, especially in Manly.
The paper explains that Ms Berejiklian faces unfinished business on councils, with a recent NSW Court of Appeal decision complicating matters. The court ruled Ku-ring-gai Council was denied procedural fairness before its proposed merger with Hornsby Council. Legal challenges to another four proposed council mergers are still in the works.
And the SMH suggests that she may yet need to wipe the slate clean on the unpopular policy she inherited from Mike Baird, and drop plans for the remaining mergers of metropolitan councils, as she has for regional ones.
