NSW election results: Chris Minns wins, Dominic Perrottet quits as leader after loss

Labor leader Chris Minns is set to become the next premier of NSW after seizing power from the Coalition in an election bloodbath, especially in western Sydney.

Labor leader Chris Minns is set to become the next premier of NSW after seizing power from the Coalition in an election bloodbath, especially in western Sydney.

In a feat only achieved only twice since World War II, Labor has dragged itself out of the opposition wilderness on the back of significant swings triggered by disaffected voters who declared it was time for change.

The result triggered immediate bloodletting among Liberals – one declaring the brand as “toxic” and “cooked” – as other blamed bitter infighting, preselection feud and the legacy of the Morrison government.

Mr Minns entered the election with 36 seats, and needing to win 11 to govern outright – and by 9pm he had claimed the necessary 47, many of those his party lost in western Sydney in 2011.

At 9.30pm with just under 40 per cent of the vote counted a statewide swing of seven per cent was being recorded against the Coalition.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese celebrates Chris Minns after the NSW election. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Counting had barely started when a swing began emerging, with the prized Liberal seat of Penrith falling to Labor, ending the political career of Stuart Ayres.

The carnage continued in Parramatta where the retirement of Corrections Minister Geoff Lee together with delays and internal feuding over the choice of Liberal candidate handed the seat to Labor.

The Western Sydney wipe-out also resulted in seats such as East Hills, Camden and Leppington heading to Labor, and even a surprise win with Terrigal on the Central Coast.

Labor was also set to gain the Liberal held seat of Heathcote and was ahead in Holsworthy, where Liberal Melanie Gibbons was booted out in a preselection.

Dominic Perrottet stepped down as Liberal leader immediately. Picture: Damian Shaw

However, Ms Gibbons – who was later parachuted in to Kiama by Mr Perrottet – was just ahead of independent and ex-Liberal Gareth Ward with 30 per cent of the vote counted in the seat. Labor also claimed the Liberal seat of Ryde held by retiring Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello.

The Nationals also took a battering, and appeared to be losing grip on Monaro, once held by former deputy premier John Barilaro, to Labor veteran Steve Whan.

Labor reclaimed the seat of Bega it won at the by-election and expanded its territory in the bush with the Liberal held-seat of South Coast. It was also ahead in the Liberal-held seat of Goulburn – a seat it has not held since 1965.

Multiculturalism Minister Mark Coure was last night fighting to retain his seat of Oatley with big swings to Labor, although was ahead with more than half the votes counted.Labor also gained the Liberal-held seat of Riverstone in Sydney’s north west.

However, Labor was being made to work for the seat of Balmain against the Greens, who were ahead last night.

On Sydney’s northern beaches, popular mayor Michael Regan was ahead in the once safe Liberal seat of Wakehurst, held by retiring Health Minister Brad Hazzard, while Liberal MP Tim James was battling to hold the seat of Willoughby against independent Larissa Penn.

Despite Mr Minns adopting a low-ball strategy compared with the bolder pledges offered by Mr Perrottet, voters overwhelmingly decided it was time for change after 12 years of Coalition reign.

The win means there is now wall-to-wall Labor governments across the mainland, with the Liberals only in power in Tasmania.

The first to call a win for Mr Minns was Labor veteran Graham Richardson who declared it for his party shortly before 7.30pm.

Mr Richardson told The Sunday Telegraph that Labor – and Mr Minns – was here to stay, with the win signalling a new ear for the party.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos MARCH 25, 2023: NSW Labor leader, Chris Minns holds the election night party at the Novotel Hotel In Brighton-le-sands. Chris Minns takes to the stage after winning the election. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

“He won’t be a oncer,” he said. “Labor is in power around Australia at the moment. It is part of the cycle.

“But I also think this guy is very sensitive and fair. He is not given to fighting from the hip. He will be pretty good.”

The last two times Labor won from opposition was in 1995 with Bob Carr – who had to win three seats – and in 1976 with Neville Wran who had to win six seats.

In both elections, Labor crawled out of opposition with a one-seat majority.

Former Liberal Premier Mike Baird slammed his own party, saying Mr Perrottet was forced to battle the election “with two hands tied behind his back”.

He said the Liberal party back house had a big role to play in Mr Perrottet losing the state’s top job.

“We’ve spent more time talking about Manhattan in New York than we have about Mulgoa, and that resonates locally,” he said during Nine’ election coverage.

“The party has let Dom down and the government.

“We have to change, and this sort of result will hopefully lead to that.”

Former Transport Minister David Elliott was more blunt: “We’re trying to get people into parliament but we’re getting shit people into parliament.”

Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg said the party’s brand had taken a “huge hit” at the last federal election, “and I believe that is still around. We need to be careful we don’t pursue marginal issues.”

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Originally published as NSW election results: Chris Minns wins, Dominic Perrottet quits as leader after loss

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