NSW election 2023 LIVE updates: Dominic Perrottet, Chris Minns go ...

Dominic Perrottet has cast his vote — but even the premier needs to tell electoral commission workers his name.

He arrived at Beecroft Primary School, in his electorate of Epping, with wife Helen and youngest daughter Celeste just after 9am to the smell of sausage sizzles in the undercroft.

Premier Dominic Perrottet and his wife Helen cast their vote in Beecroft on Saturday morning.Credit:Flavio Brancaleone

He said he was feeling “energetic, and looking forward” to the day that will decide his fate as premier of the state.

“We’re gonna smash it,” he told reporters.

Just like every other voter, the premier and his wife had to give their names before being checked off the commission’s books — and then went to make their vote.

There were no democracy sausages purchased at this stop, but the Perrottet’s chose seven cupcakes to take home.

Perrottet will head to a number of seats across the city today as he makes a last-minute effort to win over people’s vote.

Fresh from a full night’s sleep, Labor Leader Chris Minns kicked off election day with a visit to the seat of East Hills, the equal-most marginal electorate in the state, held by Liberal MP Wendy Lindsay on a 0.1 per cent margin.

Minns met Labor candidate Kylie Wilkinson, volunteers and voters outside Panania Public School on an overcast day in Sydney’s south.

NSW Labor leader Chris Minns joins local Labor candidate Kylie Wilkinson at Panania polling station in the East Hills electorate.Credit:Nikki Short

Handing out how-to-vote cards, Minns was especially keen to strike up a chat with the kids, including a particularly bored toddler in a stroller and a family fresh from a park run.

Minns revealed he’d convinced son Nick to pull on a red shirt for his dad’s big day, after describing him as “a 12-year-old swing voter”.

“He wants to get fed tonight,” Minns said. “Thankfully he’s not of voting age because Kogarah is very marginal.”

Whispers of a lack of sausage sizzles inside the school caused outrage among the travelling press pack, and memories of the Perrottet cupcakes brought out on the blue bus for the final day of the campaign yesterday.

“They might be a collectors item after today!” Minns quipped. The opposition leader’s next stop is Narwee in the seat of Oatley.

Staying with the Premier for a moment, and Perrottet has shaken off any suggestion he would take a step back from politics if he loses the election.

“I’m not focusing on that. I’m focusing on winning, and I’m not focusing on winning for myself for the Liberal Party, I’m focused on winning for the great people of New South Wales because I know there’s a lot at stake here,” says Perrottet.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says he is focussed on winning the state election.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

Just as the Weekend Today hosts gave Minns 60 seconds to plead his case, Perrottet has been awarded the same amount of time (and he has used every second).

This is what he had to say:

“I say to the people of NSW today, vote for your local liberal candidate because they’ll be part of my team, back our plan, our long term economic plan that grows the economy creates 100,000 jobs in Western Sydney, at the same time continues to build the infrastructure - the schools, the hospitals, the motorways, five new motorways over the next five years, and those Metro trains to Western Sydney,” Perrottet says.

“As well as putting downward pressure on household budgets - $250 of every energy bill for families and households across NSW and our Opal cap saving [for] those who use public transport, $480 this year. And at the same time setting up our children for a brighter future with our kids accounts, with all children in NSW being able to leave school up to $49,000 for the cost of education, as well as a deposit for a new home and getting rid of stamp duty for first time buyers, not just for their first home, but for their forever home as well.

“So back the Liberals today and the Nationals and our long term economic plan to keep NSW moving forward.”

It’s the premier’s turn to speak on Weekend Today, and Dominic Perrottet said he and former premier Gladys Berejiklian have been in contact in the lead-up to election day.

“We have been texting each other,” says Perrottet.

“She has been a great support for me, and we obviously worked very closely together in my previous role as treasurer for five years, and she was a great premier, and it’s been our team over the last decade that’s really turned around NSW.”

Premier Dominic Perrottet says his predecessor Gladys Berejiklian has been a great support for him during the election campaign.Credit:Louise Kennerley, Nick Moir

Perrottet was asked about the scandals of the past 12 years in the Coalition, including former premiers having to resign, and why people should trust the Coalition for another four years.

“There are always challenges when you’ve been in government for a decade,” says Perrottet.

“But the question is this – is NSW a better place today than it was 10 years ago? And the answer is yes. We’ve transformed our city and transformed our state.”

Staying with Opposition Leader Chris Minns for a minute, and the NSW Labor boss has revealed he is a superstitious guy, keeping his Saturday morning routine the same despite the pressure of election day.

“I tried to keep it exactly the same – breakfast the same, coffee at exactly the same time, I did a workout at exactly the same minute,” says Minns.

NSW Labor leader Chris Minns says he is superstitious and kept his election day routine the same.Credit:Janie Barrett

Is it good luck to have rain on an election day, asks Minns.

Well, it will be good luck for one person, but with polls open for just under an hour, we will have to get back to you on that.

Given 60 seconds to plead his case to NSW voters, Minns had this to say:

“My message to the people of NSW is vote for change. The government has been in for 12 years. They’re asking for 16 years in power. It’s time for fresh perspectives and fresh ideas for the state of NSW.

“We’ve got a comprehensive plan to fix our schools and our hospitals and retain essential workers, and we can do it all without privatising essential assets like Sydney Water.

“My team is disciplined, united, and we’re ready for the challenges. And now it’s over to you - the people of NSW.”

NSW Labor leader Chris Minns is speaking on Weekend Today just now, where he is making it clear that Labor intends to form a majority government.

Labor Leader Chris Minns says he believes Labor can form a majority government.Credit:Janie Barrett

The hosts asked Minns whether Labor would be willing to work with the crossbench to secure a majority. This is what he had to say:

“No, we’re not interested in doing deals with crossbenchers particularly before anyone has been elected into the New South Wales legislative assembly,” Minns said.

“The horse-trading that people have been alluding to over the last week, I don’t think it’s appropriate when people haven’t had a chance to vote, haven’t had a chance to have their say about who should govern NSW.”

Minns currently holds the seat of Kogarah on a paper-thin margin of 0.1 per cent, and says that if he loses the seat, he doesn’t believe Labor can win the election.

“I think I’m the only candidate standing in this seat that actually lives in the electorate, but I’m going to leave that up to my neighbours and friends and colleagues in the seat of Kogarah to make their choice about who they want to represent them,” Minns said.

“The truth is, Labor can’t win government without winning the seat of Kogarah, and I think I’m the best candidate to do that.”

The Herald’s state political editor Alexandra Smith just spoke on Weekend Today about what she thinks the result will be today.

Here’s what she had to say:

Whether you’re a keen bean who’s already voted, you still don’t know which side to vote for, or you’re just in it for the democracy sausages, there’s a lot to keep tabs on as NSW votes for its 58th parliament.

People set up signage outside a north shore polling station this morning. Credit:Nikki Short

So, if you’re eligible to vote in NSW, here’s a quick rundown of what you need to know:

Voters cast their ballot at Beecroft Public School.Credit:Flavio Brancaleone

If you want to know more about what happens once you have voted, or how the votes are actually counted, you can read more about it here.