Some 1000 apprentices will hop on board a manufacturing push to build trains in NSW if Labor is elected, but the opposition leader is also under fire from a prominent gambling whistleblower.
Labor will create three centres in the Hunter, Illawarra and western Sydney at a cost of $42 million to form the vocational backbone needed to build trains, buses and ferries if it wins next month's election.
"There is a proud tradition of train building in the Hunter," Labor leader Chris Minns told reporters in Lake Macquarie on Monday.
"It's been happening in this region for over 100 years and I firmly believe that Australians are world leaders when it comes to engineering and manufacturing - they just need a government in this state that's going to back local and buy local.
"We're determined to change government policy to make sure that we can build trains right here in NSW."
The opposition said 1000 jobs building trains in the region would be created in its first term through Domestic Manufacturing Centres of Excellence, run by TAFE.
Mr Minns said relying on overseas contractors had blown out the coalition government's budget for its top six transport infrastructure projects by 40 to 50 per cent and domestic manufacturing was needed to jump start the economy.
"Nothing will change unless there's a change of government," he said.
"We believe in domestic manufacturing and we've got the policies to back it up."
Mr Minns was speaking after the publication of a Newspoll showing the coalition was cutting into Labor's lead ahead of the March 25 election.
"The premier was on radio this morning saying he will win the election. It's not up to him. It's up to the voters in NSW," Mr Minns said.
"We're approaching this poll in a hungry but humble way. We will fight for every single vote. We expect it to be close."
One vote Mr Minns won't be getting is from gambling reform candidate Troy Stolz who is running against him in the state's most marginal seat of Kogarah.
He criticised the opposition leader for "dishonest and defamatory" comments published in The Australian newspaper, in reference to Mr Minns' saying Reverend Tim Costello was running Mr Stolz as a challenger.
"I am fiercely independent and I am not being run by anybody," Mr Stolz said.
"To state that Rev Costello is 'running' me as a candidate is inaccurate, misleading, dishonest and defamatory."
A week after the premier reassured faith communities their rights would be protected, Mr Minns said he would actively target the rising tide of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.
Labor has committed to making religious vilification unlawful by amending the Anti-Discrimination Act within 100 days of taking office and pledged $10 million to beef up security and safety at places of worship from mosques to synagogues.
The announcement was welcomed by the Australian National Imam's Council (ANIC) and the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies.
"Fighting hate is everyone's responsibility and requires a whole-of-government response to combat this scourge," the board's CEO Darren Bark said.
