The Prime Minister today refused to defend NSW's Labor government over its repeated failure to fulfill its promises and provide services to western Sydney residents.

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In a rebuff of Kristina Keneally's administration, Julia Gillard told the National Press Club she had been struck during the campaign by the level of "cynicism" over the poor performance of the NSW government, which had "obviously had its set of problems".

Asked by The Sydney Morning Herald's political editor, Peter Hartcher, if the NSW Labor government had been a good one, Ms Gillard said there was "acute" cynicism in the electorate.