Majority ‘still possible’

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian expects to form a majority government with up to 49 seats after Saturday’s state election win.

Yesterday she again refused to concede the loss of any Liberal seats, telling reporters that the coalition would win between 47 and 49 seats allowing the coalition to govern in its own right.

As counting stands, the Liberal-Nationals coalition has 46 seats – just one short of an outright majority in the 93-seat parliament.

But even if it falls short, Ms Berejiklian will be able to rely on the three returning independents – Alex Greenwich, Greg Piper and Joe McGirr – and she said the government would not take them for granted.

“I want them to be have a strong working relationship with my government from day one, not just when I might need them,” she said yesterday.

The Berejiklian government has held on to power in NSW with the coalition hoping the result will prove a boost to Scott Morrison just two months out from the federal election.

Ms Berejiklian on Saturday became the first woman to be popularly elected premier of NSW and she’ll lead the coalition into a third straight term for the first time in 50odd years.