Teal wins could be repeated at NSW poll

A loss of electoral love for the NSW coalition government in traditional blue ribbon seats could see Teal candidates take a second victory lap at the upcoming state election, a political analyst says.

"We're picking up a lot of disaffection towards the incumbent government," focus group organiser and Director of Redbridge Group Kos Samaras told AAP.

Polling carried out by Redbridge shows a significant collapse in primary support for the Liberal-National coalition in inner city seats is extending into the regions, Mr Samaras said.

At the same time, there had been an overall increase in interest in Teal-type independent candidates, so named for their blue Liberal backgrounds and green-leaning contemporary political approach.

"The numbers that we're seeing in state seats that are situated federal 'Teal' electorates, like Mackellar, indicate that we could probably see a repeat of the federal election results."

The May federal election saw Teal candidates sweep up the votes in blue ribbon Liberal seats, including Wentworth in Sydney's east, knocking off seven coalition MPs across NSW, Victoria and Western Australia. 

Meanwhile, in the regions, One Nation and the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers parties have gained popularity in traditionally Nationals-held seats, while Labor has increased its support in suburban areas.

Mr Samaras is carrying out research for the political action group Climate 200, set up by clean energy backer Simon Holmes à Court, who funded a number of Teal campaigns in the federal election.

Former premier Gladys Berejiklian also continues to loom large in the minds of a certain set of Sydney voters embittered after her resignation late last year.

"There is a significant group of people who were very loyal to Gladys, who were not happy that she left," Mr Samaras said.

"Many of the people that we interviewed in Sydney in particular have a view that she was forced to leave and that it wasn't her fault."

Ms Berejiklian resigned from politics last October, after an investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption into her ex-partner, former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire, turned its focus onto her.

Some of those voters also blame the current Liberal premier Dominic Perrottet for Ms Berejiklian's exit from politics, Mr Samaras added.

"We don't attempt to rationalise to people when they're talking to us about this stuff. But that's how they digested this."

A recent poll by the Australian Financial Review and Freshwater Strategy found the NSW coalition was behind Labor on the primary vote at 36 per cent to 37 per cent, ahead of the state election on March 25.

On a two-party preferred basis, the gap widens to 54 per cent for Labor and 46 per cent for the coalition.

For Labor, voters generally do not have negative feelings for Opposition Leader Chris Minns but are less likely to recognise the Kogarah MP by name.

"The problem for Labor is that, obviously, not everyone knows who he is."

In the state seat of Pittwater, the search is on for a new independent candidate after Liberal minister and local MP Rob Stokes announced he would retire at the state election.

"People are tired of partisan politics," Rebecca Clarke from the Independent Pittwater campaign told AAP.

"People are starting to realise that as a safe seat, you are taken for granted."

Pittwater sits within the same boundaries as the federal electorate of Mackellar, which turned Teal with the election of Independent Sophie Scamps in May.

There is now hunger for another independent candidate, Ms Clarke said.

Local issues, including coastal erosion of the area's beaches, worsened by climate change, and flooding of the Wakehurst Parkway, which blocks access to Northern Beaches Hospital, have driven negative community sentiment, she added.

The campaign has entered serious discussions with several candidates but is still open to further applicants ahead of the NSW poll.