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Education, climate dominate NSW debate

NSW Labor has promised to spend an extra $7.4 billion on a school-building program while the premier has backed her government's stance on climate change.

GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN
Education and climate change have dominated the NSW election, with the major parties neck-and-neck. (AAP)

Education and climate change have dominated the NSW election debate on the same day Treasurer Dominic Perrottet was forced to defend his record on disclosing donations.

NSW Labor leader Michael Daley on Tuesday promised $7.4 billion to build new schools and upgrade others across the state in addition to the $2.7 billion previously allocated to fully fund the Gonski agreement by 2027.

The coalition and Labor are deadlocked at 50-50 on a two-party preferred basis less than two weeks out from the state election, according to a Newspoll published by the Australian on Tuesday.

Another poll, commissioned by the Sydney Morning Herald, found close to 58 per cent of voters would be swayed by the issue of climate change when casting their ballot. It had Labor ahead 51-49.

Ms Berejiklian backed her government's position on climate change arguing NSW had the most resilient energy base and struck a good balance on emissions.

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"Climate change is real and as a government we need to do everything we can to deal with it and we have been," Ms Berejiklian told reporters.

While Ms Berejiklian was defending her party, the opposition leader was busy reminding voters Prime Minister Scott Morrison once walked into federal parliament with a lump of coal.

"I don't think that's funny. I think it's a lack of leadership," Mr Daley said.

"We believe in climate change, we believe it's real, the coalition don't. They still think it's funny that Scott Morrison walked into parliament with a lump of coal."

After days of education promises overshadowed by her government's plans to knock down and rebuild Allianz Stadium, Ms Berejiklian was in southwest Sydney to unveil a small business savings measure on Tuesday.

The package includes $300 million worth of discounts on workers' compensation premiums for 280,000 employers over the three years, delivering a discount of between eight and 12.5 per cent for those with the safest workplaces.

Ms Berejiklian said small business was the "backbone" of NSW, employing more than a million people.

Meanwhile, the state's treasurer attempted to laugh off suggestions he should have disclosed donations from a law firm his brother works for.

The Liberal Party is investigating whether a $2300 donation from Mr Perrottet's former employer Henry Davis York was properly disclosed.

"The Liberal party are going through their paperwork at the moment and if a disclosure has not been made for that lunch, the catering costs will be disclosed in due course," the treasurer told reporters on Tuesday.


3 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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