Hands holding a ballot paper, symbolising election participation.(File image: Edmond Dantès / Pexels)
Newy 87.8 FM – NSW Premier Chris Minns has publicly acknowledged One Nation is polling strongly in the Hunter and poses a real electoral challenge to Labor at the March 2027 state election.
Mr Minns told Sydney radio 2GB on Tuesday that One Nation's leaders, based in the Hunter, were "polling extraordinarily well" and a political reality, while noting no one has voted yet and arguing Labor has the better plan. One Nation's NSW leader Mike Newman is Hunter-based.
The Premier has previously described One Nation as a "genuine threat" to Labor and to his own seat.
The acknowledgement comes as the NSW Government promotes major Hunter investments. A $12 billion Hunter train manufacturing program is underway, with candidate sites at a former coal mine at Teralba and the Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot, up to 780 construction jobs and about 550 ongoing roles, and a 50 per cent local content rule. An expression of interest process for the next NSW suburban fleet closes on 10 November.
On 19 October, the government announced legislation to protect 400 jobs at MACH Energy's Mount Pleasant mine, including a Jobs Guarantee until 2032. The mine currently employs 826 permanent workers and contractors.
In August, a joint NSW–Commonwealth investment of at least $2.5 billion was announced for Tomago Aluminium, securing more than 1,000 direct and about 5,000 indirect jobs.
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