Port Macquarie by-election contest kicks off between Liberals and Nationals
With a quarter of the vote counted at 8pm on Saturday, the Libs and the Nats are separated by just 0.4 per cent in Port Macquarie by-election.
NSW
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Almost a quarter of the votes are in for the Port Macquarie by-election and the results are neck-and-neck.
At 8pm on Saturday, the Liberals held 50.2 per cent of the two-candidate-preferred vote, while the Nationals followed closely behind with 49.8 per cent.
The intra-Coalition fight comes as the Liberals and Nationals both fielded candidates after months of infighting. Liberal candidate Robert Dwyer will contest the seat against Nationals candidate Sean Gleeson, who is the second person endorsed by the minor Coalition partner to run.
Local doctor Warwick Yonge stood as an independent after he was dropped from the Nationals four days after his preselection.
Lynette Coetzer from the Libertarian Party, Megan May from the Legalise Cannabis Party and Greens candidate Bruce Watson round out the ballot paper.
Labor has decided to not run a candidate in the historically secure Coalition seat.
The by-election comes after former Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams announced she would retire from politics in late February, triggering the contest.
Ms Williams was elected as a National but sensationally defected to the Liberals in 2020 over the coalitions’ koala wars.
The switch has contributed to Port Macquarie’s growing status as a symbolic contest for power between the Coalition partners.
While the NSW Liberals and their leader Mark Speakman are quietly confident of retaining the seat, a Nationals win would be considered a major upset.
More than 35 per cent of constituents have already cast their vote through postal vote applications and early voting as of midday Saturday.
Polling booths will close at 6pm and first results are not expected before 6.30pm.
Depending on the results, the winner could be called as early as Saturday night.
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