EDITOR'S NOTE: The High Court overturned Cardinal George Pell's conviction for historic child sex offences in a judgment handed down April 7, 2020. In a unanimous decision all seven High Court judges found Victoria's Court of Appeal should not have upheld Pell's conviction. It found the evidence could not support a guilty verdict.

In the must-win seat of Penrith, it was clear the Liberals had reached their break-glass moment.

As it is written in Liberal lore: if in doubt, roll John Howard out. They are, and so they did.

Former prime minister John Howard hit the campaign trail in Penrith with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Sports Minister Stuart Ayres, who is defending the seat on a margin of 6.2 per cent. Credit:Nick Moir

Mr Howard, a beacon of long and stable government in the eyes of many voters, hit the hustings with Premier Gladys Berejiklian and her Sports Minister Stuart Ayres on Monday.