Gladys Berejiklian is unlikely to lose her working majority in Parliament, even if Michael Johnsen's Upper Hunter seat falls to Labor.
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The Coalition has only 46 of the 93 seats in the Legislative Assembly after former Liberal John Sidoti and former National Mr Johnsen were forced onto the crossbench this month.
Mr Johnsen quit on Wednesday, giving Labor or the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party the chance to pick up Upper Hunter at a by-election.
But independent Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper told the Newcastle Herald that he had no plans to stop supporting the Berejiklian government, despite being "appalled and shocked" by the the rape and sexting allegations engulfing Mr Johnsen.
"My support has always been for Berejiklian, I guess. It's a little bit more personal," he said.
Mr Johnsen finally bowed to calls from senior government and opposition figures to quit immediately, tendering his resignation at lunchtime on Tuesday.
Mr Johnsen held Upper Hunter with a slender 2.2 per cent margin at the 2019 election.
Mr Piper said he and his two fellow long-term independents, Alex Greenwich and Joe McGirr, were unlikely to switch allegiances.
"I'll have to look at that at the time," he said.
"While I think there's some good members in the opposition, the question is are they in a good position to take the reins, lead and provide good, stable government.
"Well, I'd be reasonably sceptical about that, but let's wait and see. I'm not sure it's what the state needs now."
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Mr Piper said Labor would face a "baptism of fire" if it tried to form government.
"We've made it very clear that where there's corruption that's not dealt with or maladministration - this is Alex Greenwich and myself, in particular, and also Joe McGirr - that we draw the line there.
"Right now I think there's a need for stable government, and I don't think anybody can seriously say that Berejiklian is not delivering that."
Mr Piper said it appeared as though some members of the government had become "tired", "complacent" and "taken liberties" after 10 years in power.
"There's some members who come to enjoy it and think it's a privilege. We're in a privileged position, but you don't assume privilege.
"While there's plenty of problems going on in the Coalition, I can't fault Berejiklian, notwithstanding her own faux pas. I'll set that aside."
Mr Johnsen was suspended from the National party last week over allegations he raped a woman at a Blue Mountains lookout in 2019.
He strenuously denies that allegation and has not responded to requests for comment on new allegations raised on Tuesday that he offered the woman $1000 to have sex with him in Parliament House, sent her lewd messages during question time and texted a video of himself masturbating in a toilet.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro has apologised to the "citizens of the Upper Hunter" and conceded the Coalition could lose the seat if a by-election were held, cementing the government's minority status.
"But I'd rather stand here doing the right thing than worrying about a majority in government," he said.
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