Port Macquarie by-election contest kicks-off between Liberals and Nationals
A holiday hotspot on the state’s mid-north coast has become the new election frontline as voters turn out to choose their next representative – and the Coalition partners turn against each other.
NSW
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A holiday hotspot on the state’s mid-north coast has become the new election frontline as voters turn out to decide who will hold the seat for the next two years.
The Port Macquarie by-election got off to a slow start on Saturday, according to political staff on the ground, but plenty of eyes will be watching when the results start to roll in this weekend.
The fight is expected to come down to Coalition partners, the Liberals and Nationals, who have both fielded candidates for the seat 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.
While local doctor Warwick Yonge will compete 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 will 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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