Turkey’s earthquake death toll rises. Joe Biden delivers his 2023 State of the Union address. The RBA rate hike hit homeowners.debate in parliament intensifies

In state news, NSW Premier Dominic Perrotet joined Labor leader Chris Mings in his radio studio this morning at 2GB breakfast Ben Fordham will host a debate ahead of the March 25th election.

The two leaders were asked to prepare three questions for each other prior to the discussion. Minns first questioned his Perrottet about the pressure on NSW hospitals.

Mings said the pandemic has seen widespread resignations at major hospitals across the state.

“They consistently say that your government is neither helping nor supporting them,” Mins said.

Perrottet supported Liberal investments in hospitals in New South Wales, but said wage increases for health workers must be reasonable.

“When you look at our emergency department, they are the best in the country,” said the NSW premier.

“I can’t give everyone everything in five years as a former state treasurer.”

Perrottet’s first question to Minns was about the WestConnex infrastructure project, asking how the Labor leader (if he was Prime Minister) paid for it.

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The New South Wales prime minister scoffed at Mings’ response when the Labor leader said he would have used money from a state-owned company’s dividends.

“There’s a reason the previous Labor government closed 90 schools across NSW, with no schools under construction or hospitals,” Mr Perrottet said.

“There were no subways, no highways. We didn’t have the means to pay for it, not because there was no intention, but because they couldn’t have it. Chris told me he doesn’t have a plan.”

“Chris, you can’t build major infrastructure on the dividends of state-owned enterprises.”