The bold call came after the premier announced recently the NSW government would provide $25 million in funding for a new sporting complex in Orange, but only if voters elected the National Party representative, Kate Hazelton.
‘‘This will only happen if Kate is the member and I want to make that clear,’’ Ms Berejiklian said.
But Mrs Dalton said the situation was outrageous and sounded like ‘‘blackmail or bribery’’.
‘‘What’s next? Do we only get community funding if we vote National?’’ she said.
SFF Orange MP Phil Donato said he would write a formal letter to the NSW Electoral Commissioner reporting what his party saw as an illegal act.
‘‘If you look at the NSW Electoral Act 2017, it seems clear to me the premier breached Section 209 on electoral bribery, treating and selling of votes in Orange on Wednesday,’’ Mr Donato said.
Section 209 (1) of the Act states: ‘‘A person must not, in order to influence or affect any person’s election conduct, give or confer, or promise or offer to give or confer, any property or any other benefit of any kind to the person or any other person.’’
‘‘The Sydney Morning Herald used the word blackmail in their headline. This is no exaggeration,’’ Mrs Dalton said
‘‘We know that Sydney gets billions for stadiums and light rail no matter which way they vote.
‘‘The Murray electorate needs more government funding for the backlog of urgent upgrades to our roads, rail, schools and hospitals.
‘‘We all pay our taxes. Basic services should not be given or denied on the basis of political whims.’’
Ms Berejiklian said SFF could ‘‘play all the political games they like’’.
‘‘But I’m committed to delivering for the people of NSW,’’ she said.
