Federal election 2019: Liberals have edge on critical Reid seat

The Liberals look set to hold the critical Sydney seat of Reid with candidate Fiona Martin, despite Labor hoping to win back the electorate in the face of the retirement of sitting MP Craig Laundy.

The Liberals look set to hold the critical Sydney seat of Reid, despite Labor hoping to win back the electorate in the face of the retirement of sitting MP Craig Laundy.

An Exclusive YouGov/Galaxy poll has the Liberal party winning the costs with a 52/48 two party preferred result.

Liberal candidate for Reid, Fiona Martin. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Retiring MP Craig Laundy. Picture: Mick Tsikas

It’s a tighter result than the 2016 election, when the Liberals won 54.7/45.3.

Reid was a safe Labor electorate until 2013, and Labor hoped it could win the seat back with local MP Craig Laundy — a Malcolm Turnbull supporter — retiring.

Liberal candidate Fiona Martin is polling with 44 per cent of the primary vote, while Labor’s Sam Crosby is polling at 36 per cent.

The Greens are polling at 7 per cent and the United Australia Party 6 per cent.

It represents a fall in the Liberals’ primary vote from 2016, when the party polled at 48.8 per cent, and Labor at 36.3.

Voters were also asked who would make a better Prime Minister.

Mr Morrison led the vote with 48 per cent, with just 31 per cent backing Mr Shorten and 21 per cent uncommitted.

The poll of 577 voters in Reid was conducted on the evenings of 13-14 of May.