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AAP
AAP
Politics
Phoebe Loomes

NSW Labor unity about more than 'winning the election'

Chris Minns says he has unified his party in the lead up to the state election with a "sole philosophy" about economic opportunity.

Asked about the cohesion within NSW Labor ranks with the state election just over one month away, the Labor leader said the party had zeroed in on an ideology that was about more than just victory.

"We've got a sole purpose and it's not about winning the election, actually," Mr Minns told diners at a Sydney lunch hosted by progressive think tank, The McKell Institute, on Tuesday.

"It's about confronting the challenges facing the people of this state, with a philosophy."

The event was attended by representatives from unions, the big four banks, charities, major supermarkets, gaming companies Crown and The Star, and tech giants TikTok and Canva.

Labor frontbenchers, including Shadow treasurer Daniel Mookhey and deputy leader Prue Car joined Mr Minns for the event.

"When I took the leadership of the party, I gave a speech and it was a raucous period ... about economic opportunity.

"Today I spoke about economic opportunity. I suspect I'll talk about it tomorrow and hopefully I'll say it the day before the election campaign as well."

Reports NSW was heading towards an energy crisis were sobering, after the country's energy regulator warned the state faced an energy supply cliff in coming years, he said.

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) warned the country's energy grid was in danger of failing over in coming years without major new investment.

Mainland states, including NSW, are forecast to breach standards of reliable production by 2027, when at least five coal-fired power stations are expected to retire.

"For all of (Treasurer and Energy Minister) Matt Kean's press conferences and speeches and parables in the NSW parliament about the changes that he's made, this is a glaring omission, that's been skewered as a result of this AEMO report today," Mr Minns said.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the NSW government has a long-term plan for the transition to renewable energy sources, including short-term relief for families in the form of vouchers.

The coalition government has also allocated $380 million over the next four years to boost investment in large-scale renewable energy as part of its Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap.

Mr Kean will meet with other state and territory energy ministers to discuss the issue on Friday, the premier said.

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