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NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says his government will cap commuters' Opal card public transport costs at $40 a week rather than $50.
- Mr Perrottet says the Opal card cap will most help those in Sydney's outer suburbs.
- Former PM John Howard praised Mr Perrottet's pokie machine reforms
- Mr Minns promised to keep Sydney Water and Hunter Water in public hands
About 150 Liberal Party faithful this morning gathered at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre in Penrith to hear from the Premier, six days out from the state election.
Mr Perrottet used the event to make another cost of living policy announcement, giving commuters more free trips on public transport.
Concession card holders will pay no more than $20 a week.
For an adult travelling from Penrith train station to Town Hall during weekday peak times, at $7.24 each way, the cap would be reached on the sixth trip.
Mr Perrottet said the measure would most help those in Sydney's outer suburbs.
"For the average commuter who hits the cap every week and works 11 months of the year, this could provide up to $480 in transport cost relief," he said.
Penrith is held by Stuart Ayres with a slim 0.6 per cent margin and retaining the seat is key to the government's chances at next weekend's poll.
Mr Ayres told the crowd a Labor government had shown it did not understand Western Sydney voters.
"We are unashamedly aspirational, and we are positive about the future," he said.
Former prime minister John Howard also fronted the rally in one of the party's most at-risk seats in Western Sydney.
Mr Howard said the premier had shown courage no other leader could muster on gambling reform.
"Dominic Perrottet believes in things," he said.
"I've admired the strength he's displayed on poker machine reform.
"This is an area that screamed aloud for courage, and at long last, we've found a political leader... to do something about it."
Meanwhile, Labor leader Chris Minns this morning addressed a "final countdown" campaign rally at the Western Sydney University campus in Parramatta.
Mr Minns promised to amend the NSW constitution to include protection for Sydney Water and Hunter Water staying in public hands.
Labor said the change to the constitution would mean that any attempt to privatise water assets would then have to go before the parliament.
Mr Minns made the announcement in front of about 150 people at a small auditorium in Parramatta.
The Western Sydney seat is one that Labor is likely to snatch from the Liberals at the election.
Twelve MPs were at the rally, including deputy leader Prue Car, Shadow Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, and Shadow Transport Minister Jo Haylen.
Federal Minister and NSW Labor president Michelle Rowland was also in attendance.
Twenty years ago, Victoria made a similar decision to change its constitution to include the delivery of water services.
During the campaign, Labor pressured Mr Perrottet to reveal whether he would sell off Sydney Water in the next term of government.
Mr Perrottet has since ruled out privatisation of any asset if he wins the election.
"Sydney Water is under threat," Mr Minns said this morning.
"If the Liberal Nationals get voted back in, Sydney Water won't survive the next four years.
"It's time to end the New South Wales government's love affair with privatisation once and for all.
"Privatisation of our ports, toll roads, and energy infrastructure has also contributed to the cost-of-living crisis that is now impacting every single family in New South Wales."
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