At the NSW State election on 24 March, just 11 weeks away, people and families in NSW will have the opportunity to vote for change or opt for more of the same from Labor, NSW Opposition Leader Peter Debnam said today. 

"During the next four weeks I will be touring the state, arguing the case for change," Mr Debnam said.

"I will be listening to the residents and families of NSW tell their stories about how 12 years of Labor has impacted on their communities and their way of life. And I will be taking the opportunity to share my solutions for how we can get NSW back where it needs to be," he said.

"For the next four weeks I will be getting up close and personal, experiencing first hand the challenges and issues that NSW residents are dealing with every day in their community, and understanding their aspirations for how they would like things to be better.

"Most of us grew up in a NSW where our state was the place to be. We led the way – we had the strongest economy, the best hospitals, the best schools. NSW was the Premier State. After twelve years of Labor in NSW, under Bob Carr and Morris Iemma, we can no longer make this claim.

"While the rest of the country is moving ahead, NSW has been left behind in almost every area.

"Our economy is on the brink of recession, our infrastructure is crumbling around us and Bob Car and Morris Iemma’s failure to plan and act over twelve years on our State’s water needs has created a water crisis.

"We lag the rest of the country on all the key indicators – from the state’s finances and our moribund economy to how much water we recycle. Yet we pay more taxes per person than in any other state.  It’s time to get NSW back in front.

"Last year, I outlined ten key tasks that we needed to address in order to get NSW moving again.

"Critical in these tasks is the need to rescue our economy from recession, tackle our water crisis and start delivering the infrastructure that NSW needs to grow.

"I look forward to discussing how these priorities can improve the circumstances for people and families living across the state.

"As I move around I will also be encouraging people to sign up to our petition to retain CareFlight and encouraging people and families in NSW to think about the things they can do to help manage the impacts of climate change, especially through the use of more greenhouse-friendly fuels and water saving measures.

"To support this I will be on the road – in environmentally-friendly cars - and will be promoting the NSW Liberal/Nationals policy to provide $1500 rebates for water tanks.

"NSW is a great place to live. And I know that as I move around NSW over the next four weeks, I will be struck once again by its physical beauty and encouraged by the strength and character of the local communities, families and people that make our State great.

"I believe these people and communities deserve better than what Labor has delivered over the past 12 years.

"Things should be better and can be better, but to make them better we need to make a change. More of the same with Labor will not get our State where we need it to be.

"A vote for Labor will see the same old ways and same old faces, back making the decisions that have left NSW in the state it’s currently in.