Cashless gaming in pubs and clubs, reversing a plan to bulldoze bushland to make way for hundreds of homes, and lifting academic standards in the bush will have to occur if the Coalition or Labor require the support of independents to form government.
Integrity and stopping the “grant rorts” also feature highly on the list of demands that the independents will bring to the table if the major parties are forced to negotiate to obtain the necessary 47 seats to govern.
Popular Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan, who has the Liberals in a sweat after nominating as an independent for the seat of Wakehurst, held by outgoing Health Minister Brad Hazzard, has put the highly controversial Lizard Rock development on his list of demands.
Thousands of locals have been petitioning against plans to raze 45 football fields of natural bushland for 450 homes at Lizard Rock near Belrose after the state government progressed the development proposal to the next stage two days before Christmas.
The proposal has been put up by the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, after successfully claiming native title on Crown land.
Mr Regan said he will support whichever party commits to stopping “overdevelopment at Lizard Rock”.
His support will also be contingent on which party will put in place measures to protect endangered koala habitats “because clearly the current policy is not working”.
While former Liberal minister Gareth Ward, who is contesting his seat of Kiama as an independent as he fights historical sexual assault charges, which he strongly denies, is likely to favour the Coalition, it is understood he is open to negotiating.
His list of demands includes a Nowra bypass, two new schools and a plan to reduce the cost of living locally, including for self-funded retirees.
Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich said it was likely he would work as a bloc with fellow independents Wagga Wagga MP Joe McGirr and Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper in negotiating with the parties.
Mr Greenwich said cashless gaming technology would be a key condition of their support in the event of a hung parliament.
“Teal” independent Jacqui Scruby, who is vying for the blue-ribbon seat of Pittwater against Liberal candidate Rory Amon, said she would be open to negotiating with either party, but wanted to see more ambitious plans to reform pokies and “stop the gambling lobby’s influence”.
