It takes a very popular politician – or a very courageous one, in Sir Humphrey Appleby's terms – to remind voters they can toss him out if they don't like his decisions.
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NSW Premier Mike Baird laid down that gauntlet over his greyhound racing ban.
Whether you agtree with it or not, the decision to close the "dishlickers" in this state was courageous.
The ban was also brave in Applebyist terms because it raised a possibility that many voters would revolt.
That seems unlikely. The greyhound ban is supported by 50.9 per cent of the 1609 people surveyed by ReachTEL this week. A further 17.6 per cent are undecided.
But the problems are mounting elsewhere for a Coalition government otherwise noted for good economic and budget management.
Up till the March 2015 election his approval rating in Fairfax-Ipsos polls – with a margin of error of 3.1 per cent – hovered around 60 per cent. A month before the election he was the preferred premier of 54 per cent of people versus 24 per cent who leaned towards Labor's Luke Foley. The Baird government was returned to power with 54.3 per cent of the two-party preferred vote.
Now the Fairfax-ReachTEL poll has the Baird government and the Foley opposition locked at 50-50 on 2PP basis, with a 2.8 per cent margin of error. Mr Baird even trails Mr Foley as preferred premier, 48.7 per cent to 51.3 per cent.
A series of health bungles this year has left people worried about hospitals. Health Minister Jillian Skinner remains a millstone for the government, with the independent report into fatal gas mix-ups due to raise pressure on her on Saturday.
On council mergers, the case was strong for fewer councils to save money, improve governance and limit self-interest. But the government failed to sell the reforms efficiently.
The premier's electricity privatisation program has raised crucial revenue for infrastructure, but faces a hurdle following Canberra's rejection of two Chinese bidders.
To that end we reject claims that the greyhound ban is the thin edge of the wedge for a progressive agenda. It is not.
The lesson for Mr Baird as he tries to revive his political stocks is that if difficult reforms are explained clearly, people will respond positively. But when the basics of government such as safe hospitals and better schools are overlooked, voters revolt.
