NSW election: Chris Minns’ brutal response to Nova.FM about having more kids like Dominic Perrottet

Chris Minns has joked he’d ‘rather lose the election than have a fourth’ child.

The doting dad, who hopes to become the 47th premier of NSW when voters hit the polls on March 25, has three sons; Joe, 14, Nick, 12, and George, six.

He’s on a media blitz this week as he campaigns ahead of the election, and appeared on Nova’s Fitzy and Wippa with Katie Ritchie on Thursday morning.

The radio hosts, who have had Premier Dominic Perrottet as a guest multiple times, quipped: ‘It’s impossible to compete with Dom when we talk about number of kids.’

Mr Minns agreed, noting he has three children to Mr Perrottet’s seven. ‘I’ve only got… well I’ve got three,’ he said, describing his brood as ‘a handful’.

‘Three’s enough. I’d rather lose the election than have a fourth.’

He’s on a media blitz at the moment as he campaigns ahead of the election, and this morning appeared on Nova’s Fitzy and Wippa with Katie Ritchie

The doting dad, who hopes to become the 47th premier of NSW when voters hit the polls on March 25, has three sons; Joe, 14, Nick, 12, and George, six

Dominic Perrottet has admitted his family of nine are struggling with grocery prices amid a cost of living crisis – even with his enormous $416,000 salary 

Mr Minns’ admission that he and his wife Anna are done having children, comes in stark contrast to his Liberal counterpart.

Mr Perrottet’s wife Helen revealed in the Weekend Australian that she’d be ‘happy for more’ children.

‘Being a lawyer is nice but having seven kids is the best thing I’ve ever done.’ 

Mr Perrottet also says he open to having more children, and has admitted he doesn’t understand the interest in his large family.

 ‘We wanted to have a large family,’ he said. ‘We love our children. We both grew up in large families, and we know how great it is.’

The radio hosts quipped: ‘It’s impossible to compete with Dom when we talk about number of kids’

Mr Minns agreed, noting he has three children to Dominic Perrottet’s seven. ‘I’ve only got… well I’ve got three,’ he said, describing his brood as ‘a handful’. ‘Three’s enough. I’d rather lose the election than have a fourth’

The joke was well received by the Nova crew, and he went on to play a pop quiz game in an attempt to win $500 for a listener

Mr Minns has a well documented playful relationship with his children, joking in December 2022 his middle son, Nick, would wear a t-shirt with Mr Perrottet’s face on it just to wind him up.

‘The middle one is just an absolute stirrer. Dominic Perrottet comes on the TV, he pauses it, he goes ”this bloke’s making a lot of sense”,’ Mr Minns said on ABC Radio.

‘Next thing, a t-shirt, a Dominic Perrottet t-shirt arrives in the mail. So I have to wake up every second morning with my middle boy wearing a Dominic Perrottet t-shirt around my own house.’ 

The Premier admitted on Wednesday his family of nine are struggling with grocery prices amid Australia’s inflation crisis – even with his $416,000 salary.

He was asked about whether he is also feeling the pinch as household costs soar during a TV debate with Mr Minns ahead of the March 25th NSW election.

‘There are always challenges,’ he said. ‘Every family across New South Wales is struggling with the cost of living.’

In the segment, Mr Minns also spoke of the policies he’s bringing to the election, including his cap on toll roads for western Sydney residents

Almost half of all households surveyed listed groceries as one of their top three most stressful expenses (stock image)

When asked to provide specifics, Mr Perrottet said his family are particularly struggling with the cost of the weekly grocery shop.

‘Grocery bills. With seven kids, I can tell you… It’s a challenge.’  

With a large brood to feed already, there’s no doubt the Perrottet’s grocery bill is bigger than most. 

When asked to provide specifics, Mr Perrottet said his family are particularly struggling with the cost of the weekly shop

During the debate, Mr Perrottet said he has a plan to reduce the cost of groceries for NSW families, but Mr Minns argued it’s simply not possible.

Mr Minns noted grocery bills are not a state responsibility, and conceded he has no plans to directly slash the cost of food.

But Mr Perrottet believes his policies, should he be re-elected, would bring prices down.

He said he plans to tackle supply chain issues by vowing to ‘get produce from port to plate faster… which would put downward pressure on groceries’.

‘Absolutely, I can guarantee it will be cheaper. One of the biggest costs to groceries is supply chain costs.’ 

Money expert at Finder, Sarah Megginson, recommended families stick to a shopping list, shop late at night and stock up on staple items when they’re on sale to save money (stock image)

The latest data indicates Australian families are spending $1,924 more on their groceries compared to last year.

The average household now spends $185 per week on groceries, which was $37 more than in February 2022, according to comparison website Finder.

That figure equates to a 25 per cent increase in the weekly grocery shop, totally $18.8billion nationally.

The survey also found some 43 per cent of households listed groceries as one of their top three most stressful expenses. 

The report also reveals millennials are spending more than other generations. Their weekly spend is $197, compared with $149 for baby boomers, $187 for gen Xers and $186 for generation Z.

Money expert at Finder, Sarah Megginson, said households are facing some ‘very tough times’ as escalating grocery costs become a massive extra burden.

‘Aussies are having to change how and where they shop just to keep food on the table,’ she said.

Those living in Western Australia have witnessed the sharpest jump in their weekly grocery bills, which have risen by more than a third, while NSW residents are coughing up more than any other state.