Federal Election 2019: Voters favour Labor in Greenway and Chifley
Voters in Greenway and Chifley have bucked the national trend at Saturday’s Federal Election, retaining the status quo and re-electing Labor MPs. See how the votes fell here.
Blacktown
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Voters in Greenway and Chifley have bucked the national trend in Saturday’s Federal Election, favouring Labor in Blacktown City’s electorates.
Incumbent MPs Michelle Rowland (Greenway) and Ed Husic (Chifley) held onto their seats, despite swings to Liberal candidates Allan Green and Livingston Chettipally respectively in the May 18 poll.
With 80 per cent of the Greenway vote counted on Monday afternoon, Ms Rowland held the seat with 53 per cent of the vote against Liberal Allan Green on 46 per cent in the two-party preferred count.
Ms Rowland was elected for her fourth term, despite sustaining a three per cent swing against Labor.
Declaring the win on Saturday at Blacktown RSL, Ms Rowland thanked her supporters.
“The seat of Greenway is one which comprises people who have very high standards,” Ms Rowland said.
“High standards in terms of their aspirations and high standards in terms of their expectations of their local MP.
“I would like to think that since 2010 when I had the privilege of becoming the member for Greenway that I have satisfied those expectations and that is reflected in the result.”
Speaking to the Advocate on Monday, Mr Green said he was encouraged by the support for his party throughout the campaign.
“We increased the Liberal primary vote by over six per cent,” Mr Green said.
“The two-party swing to us is over three per cent at this stage of counting. This was achieved by a short campaign against a well-resourced sitting Labor MP.”
In Chifley, Mr Husic was also returned for his fourth term, holding the seat with 69 per cent of the vote in the two-party preferred count.
This was despite a swing against Labor of six per cent. However, Chifley remains a Labor stronghold, holding the seat since its inception in 1969.
Casting his vote at William Dean Public School in Dean Park on Saturday morning, Mr Husic was hopeful Labor would get over the line to form government.
He thanked his voters in Chifley for their support.
“I’ve been grateful for the feedback and the support people have given me,” Mr Husic said.
“I always stake my claim locally on the fact I never sit on my hands and I’m out working for people and they see me on a regular basis out in the area or in Canberra taking up the fight.
“I make a nuisance of myself with people because we need to get the resources this part of western Sydney deserves, and if it means knocking on doors or jabbing a few ribs to get the funding and support we need, then so be it.”
First-time candidate Mr Chettipally said he was heartened by his result.
“A swing in Chifley is one of our key achievements to cherish forever,” Mr Chettipally said.
“Let me thank all the voters who have outrightly voted and cheered me on throughout the election process.
“Your vote is not wasted but adheres me with more responsibility to work.”
Voter disillusionment with the major parties was reflected in the Greenway vote, with The Greens’ Damien Atkins, Australian Better Families’ Graham McFarland and United Australia Party’s Scott Feeney receiving swings in their favour.
In Greenway, The Greens’ received a little more than five per cent of the primary vote, while Australia Better Families received just over two per cent. United Australia Party received a primary vote of 2.77 per cent, meanwhile, the Christian Democratic Party was hit by a 2.28 per cent swing against them.
In Chifley, United Australia Party’s primary voted surged, with a swing of more than four per cent in their favour, with The Greens receiving a modest favourable swing of 0.26 per cent. As seen in Greenway, the Christian Democratic Party sustained a swing of 2.77 per cent against them, while independent Ammar Khan received 1.66 per cent of the primary vote.