The article examines the declining primary votes for both major political parties in New South Wales (NSW), highlighting how they are increasingly linking their opponents to federal issues to shift responsibility.

Despite leaders like Premier Chris Minns and opposition leader Kellie Sloane maintaining relatively high personal popularity, voters remain disengaged, with nearly half considering supporting minor parties or independents.

The piece details how NSW Labor and the Coalition are using 'guilt by association' tactics, blaming each other for federal policies and controversies.

For instance, Labor condemned a federal senator's inflammatory comments about Indian migrants, while the Liberals accused Minns of being influenced by Canberra's leadership.

Historical data shows NSW votes closely mirror federal trends, with both parties struggling to distance themselves from their national counterparts despite internal efforts.

The article warns that while there's still time to reverse declining support, voters are increasingly critical of both sides' reliance on federal issues rather than local policies.