NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has brushed off the Victorian state election result as a "distraction" ahead of the local March poll, telling voters NSW "stands on its own two feet".
Speaking at a press conference in Sydney a day after the Labor Government landslide victory in Victoria, Ms Berejiklian said she did not want to get distracted by "outside influences".
"We run our own show [in NSW]," she said.
"I can't comment on the various factors that led to the win in Victoria, no doubt there's several of them.
"[But] there's no doubt that I don't want to get distracted.
"I don't want to have outside influences impacting what's happened in NSW.
The landslide victory comes on the back of the Liberal Party losing the October federal Wentworth by-election and the Wagga Wagga state by-election to independent Joe McGirr in September.
Commentators have also suggested the dumping of former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has left a stain on the Liberal Party brand, which helped propel the huge swing towards Labor seen in Victoria yesterday.
Ms Berejiklian was pressed repeatedly on whether the recent election results and the instability of the federal Liberal Party would affect the upcoming state poll.
She said it was up to the voters to make those decisions.
"I'm not going to comment what makes people vote a certain way in an election," she said.
"There's no doubt the next few months are going to be incredibly tough, incredibly tough. And I've never denied that for a second."
Both parties claim 'underdog' status
NSW is the next state to head to the polls, and to win outright Labor would need to steal back 13 seats.
A swing to Labor of seven seats could see it form a minority government, depending on the will of independents or other parties.
Despite holding a significant majority, the Premier today claimed underdog status — a statement the NSW Labor Party dismissed.
"If I'm to become premier the fact is I have to win more seats than any opposition has ever won," NSW Labor leader Michael Daley said.
"The Labor Party has to win seats [that] we've never held.
"The Premier can claim whatever status she wants — all I'm going to do is get out and meet people this Government has ignored."
Mr Daley, who was elected NSW Labor leader after former leader Luke Foley's resignation earlier this month, said the Liberal Party was "at war with itself".
"And the eye in the storm is NSW," he said.
"The Liberal Party brand is toxic."
