What you need to know about the NSW election
In one of the toughest state elections in recent times, Ms Berejiklian overcame an aggressive Labor campaign to become the first woman to be elected as premier of NSW. Here are some of the takeaways from last night’s election.
In one of the toughest state elections in recent times, Ms Berejiklian overcame an aggressive Labor campaign to become the first woman to be elected as premier of NSW.
Here are some of the takeaways from last night’s election.
1. Nats get bushwhacked
A combination of the drought, water management, Barnaby Joyce’s baby scandal and a general feeling the National Party is beholden to its Coalition partner has led to a bleeding of votes to the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party. The Nats surrendered the seat of Murray to the Shooters last night.
2. Party that is eating itself
The Greens are gripped by an existential fight over their future direction. Voters aren’t impressed by infighting.
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3. Good news, bad news
It was a tale of two city projects when it came to the issue of transport. A northwest rail link had been promised by governments since the ‘60s. The Coalition is about to deliver it on time and under budget. But the government bungled its other big-ticket project, the light rail. It probably cost it the seat of Coogee.
4. Daley’s dumb comments
Michael Daley shot himself in both feet with his comments about Asian kids and their PhDs taking the jobs of young Sydneysiders. It was dumb on so many levels. Not the least of which is that the Labor leader had gone to extraordinary lengths to win the Chinese community’s support at the election, even holding special press conferences for Chinese media only at Parliament House
5. Gladys gets it done
Despite inheriting the greyhounds and council merger mess, Gladys Berejiklian grew into the role of premier and in the end “Got It Done”
6. Counting the cost
Cost of living pressure is a killer issue. Politicians are struggling to come up with real solutions.
7. Howard’s still got it
Former PM John Howard was not only used as the Gladys whisperer, he was also key to the Libs holding on to some of the more contentious seats. So much so, the Liberal Party machine offered to fly him around the state to help save rural seats where polling still has him holding rock star status. Mr Howard declined saying he was “too old”.
8. State of play
The government was at pains to emphasise voters are intelligent enough to distinguish between state and federal issues. True, but only up to a point. If the feds are on the nose, then nasty smells from Canberra always waft back to Macquarie St. Leadership chaos, infighting among the Nationals, poor messaging, horrible polls. It was harakiri for the Coalition brand and, while they tried to hold their noses, Berejiklian and Barilaro suffered
9. Labor’s pains
Labor was going nowhere under Luke Foley and so it was a cloud with a silver lining when Michael Daley replaced him because of a sex scandal. Daley was more effective taking the fight up to Berejiklian and got the party back into the race until the campaign started. But he then made some blunders which hurt ALP hopes.
10. Stadiums or schools
The demolition of Allianz Stadium is continuing regardless of the election result. The stadium was the one issue that resonated with voters due mostly to Labor’s effective slogan, “stadiums or schools”.
The Key Seats (60.8 per cent counted)
COOGEE
TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Michael Daley’s comments on foreigners “typically from Asia” taking jobs were expected to have an impact on Labor’s chances, but Marjorie O’Neill enjoyed a 4.8 per cent swing as counting continued, ensuring a slim lead over Lib Bruce Notley-Smith.
PENRITH
LIBERAL AHEAD
Sports Minister Stuart Ayres was hanging on to his seat despite a 4.3 per cent swing against him early in counting. The troubled stadiums policy had not helped his case, although the Liberals threw everything at the electorate to try to win back the voters.
TWEED
NATS RETAIN
Tweed was a big possibility for a Labor gain in this election, but incumbent Nationals MP Geoff Provest has managed to stave off a strong showing from Craig Elliot and even increased his margin.
HEATHCOTE
LIBERALS RETAIN
The Liberals have won the southern Sydney seat despite voter concerns around overdevelopment and other local issues. Traditionally a Labor stronghold, the seat remained in some doubt due to issues including Heathcote Hall and the support of federal Liberal MP Craig Kelly for Cardinal George Pell following his conviction for child sexual assault this month. There was a swing of 2.7 per cent against the Liberal Party but it wasn’t enough to unseat sitting member Lee Evans.
MURRAY
SHOOTERS GAIN
Shooters candidate Helen Dalton has pulled off a massive victory in Murray, with a 27.8 per cent swing helping her to topple sitting Nationals member Austin Evans. The writing was on the wall for the Coalition after the recent triple by-election saw voters boot out the longstanding Liberals and install an independent in Wagga Wagga. Dalton is well known in the area and has been vocal on water mismanagement.
BARWON
SHOOTERS AHEAD
Water mismanagement and the mass fish kill left voters in the western NSW electorate wanting to give the Nationals a kicking. The initial three-way contest came down to two, with SFF candidate Roy Butler ahead with a 21.9 per cent swing.
BALLINA
GREENS RETAIN
Campaigning on coal seam gas, Tamara Smith won the North Coast seat in 2015 and was on track to increase her margin.
GOULBURN
LIBERALS RETAIN
The departure of high-profile Family and Community Services Minister Pru Goward put this seat in real danger. Despite a 2.5 per cent swing against her, new Liberal candidate Wendy Tuckerman looks to have taken the seat against Labor’s Ursula Stephens.
LISMORE
TOO CLOSE TO CALL
New Nationals candidate Austin Curtin was expected to lose the North Coast seat. But the results were on a knife edge last night, with Labor ahead by 1.7 per cent.
EAST HILLS
TOO CLOSE TO CALL
This is Sydney’s most marginal seat. Liberal candidate Wendy Lindsay and Labor’s Cameron Murphy were neck and neck with 52.7 per cent of votes counted.
MONARO
NATIONALS RETAIN
With the Nats under attack from the Left and the Right in the bush, party leader John Barilaro looked to be facing his own battle to stay in parliament, having won the seat from Labor’s Steve Whan in 2011. But the concern looks to have been for little as Barilaro enjoyed an 8.1 per cent swing in his favour, beating Labor’s Bryce Wilson convincingly.
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