NSW 2023 election: Monaro, Goulburn, and Wollondilly votes
While not declaring victory outright, Labor candidate for Monaro Steve Whan addressed the party faithful and praised his supporters and focus of the election campaign.
Canberra Star
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The seats of Wollondilly, Goulburn and Monaro are set to all change hands once counting continues on Monday.
In Monaro, Labor candidate Steve Whan is yet to officially declare victory, while incumbent Nationals MP Nichole Overall has not conceded defeat.
“NSW today has resoundingly voted for change and voted for a progressive government that thinks about people not just about politics and photo opportunities,” Mr Whan said. “It’s looking like I’m going to be part of that government.”
Ms Overall has held off from making a statement until more votes are counted.
In Wollondilly Climate 200-backed independent Judy Hannan is edging closer to ousting Liberal incumbent Nathaniel Smith.
In Goulburn its too close to call the race between Liberal incumbent Wendy Tuckerman and Labor.
Whan speaks to party faithful - 10.10pm
While not declaring victory outright, Labor candidate for Monaro Steve Whan addressed the party faithful.
“There’s 20,000 pre poll votes outstanding still, but I’d much rather be where I am,” he said
“We stayed focused in this campaign on some of those longer term things - things like staffing the schools and hospitals.
“The Nationals didn’t want to talk about them at all.”
Mr Whan acknowledged the work of former candidate Terry Campese and the support of members of ACT Labor, including Chief Minister Andrew Barr for campaigning.
“NSW today has resoundingly voted for change and voted for a progressive government that thinks about people, not just about politics and photo opportunities,” he said.
“It’s looking like I’m going to be part of that government. And it’s an opportunity that only comes along occasionally in your life.
“I’m lucky enough to have been given this opportunity looks like twice. I intend to make the most of it to make sure that we are delivering not only for this area, but for better government in the long term.”
Safe Liberal seat falls to the Teals - 8.29pm
The safe Liberal seat of Wollondilly has fallen, with the electorate to be represented by Teal independent Judith Hannan.
The incumbent Liberal MP Nathaniel Smith, the son of former NSW Attorney General Greg Smith, has lost the seat after a single term.
Ms Hannan said she was elated and proud.
“The community said enough is enough,” she said.
The Liberal Party had held the electorate since 2011.
Labor leads with tight margin in Monaro - 8.08pm
Within only a few hours of counting ABC election guru Antony Green has projected Labor to win the seat of Monaro by a tight margin.
Cheers were heard by the party faithful when early results came through.
However Mr Whan said he was not ready to claim victory just yet.
Last-minute rush to bear the deadline - 6.46pm
Glenda Harvey was seen rushing to the polls at the Queanbeyan Masonic centre less than 10 minutes before they closed.
She said she works as a musician and voted later in the day due to work commitments.
She said she was hoping for a labor win in both the seat and the state.
“I voted for Labor in in lower house and greens in the Senate,” she said.
“So I personally hope for a change of government.
“I don‘t know whether they’re going to do it’s going to be a very tight affair and it might be a hung parliament, but I’m personally hoping for a Labor victory.”
Plumber David Turner also voted late due to commitments.
Mr Turner said he didn’t have any hunches about the outcome of the election.
Minutes after the polls closed a woman arrived at the Masonic centre, and was distraught that she missed the cut off time.
A man was seen cycling past the polling place and he gleefully told campaigners he hadn’t enrolled to vote.
Every man and his cat at the booths - 4.37pm
It’s not every day you see a democracy cat.
Monaro resident Boat was accompanied by his support cat Bandit when he came to cast his vote.
Boat said he suffers from PTSD after responding to the 2019-20 bushfires that ravaged much of southern NSW.
He said Bandit was one of only two support cats in the country and said he shared his adventures with his feline friend on Tik Tok.
Despite the wet weather and the abundance of dogs, Bandit seemed unfazed.
Janine, a parent at Queanbeyan Public School, spent much of the day serving democracy sausages to voters.
“We are raising funds for improving the school grounds for our children,” she said.
“We had a really good turnout. The rain didn’t keep people away.
“We've got a beautiful community and we love having the banter and everybody coming by each time.
“If we have another election, come down and see us - we love to see people.”
ACT chief spotted in Queanbeyan - 2.18pm
ACT Chief minister Andrew Barr was spotted campaigning for Mr Whan
I‘m here to support Steve,” he said
“(It’s) grear to see him back on the ballot paper looking to represent Monaro.
“(Mr Whan) brings a lot of experience to the role will be great to work with on a couple of my pet projects, including improving the Canberra Sydney rail corridor.”
Mr Barr said it was important for ACT politicians to take notice of the NSW state election.
“(To do) whats good for this region requires people on both sides of the border to work together,” he said.
“Nsw needs a fresh start, and that's why I’m here supporting Steve.”
Labor’s Whan on the campaign trail - 12.39pm
Labor candidate for Monaro Steve Whan was seen campaigning outside Queanbeyan South Public School.
“I‘m a returning candidate after eight years out of politics,” he said.
“I'm getting a lot of people saying it’s good to see me back, which is very kind of them.
“I hope that translates into a vote but we will see.”
Mr Whan said people in the region wanted to see action on issues including education, health and natural disasters.
“We‘re actually standing here at Queanbeyan South Public School at the moment and next door is a high school where over recent months, they’ve had numerous occasions where classes are in playgrounds because of shortages of teachers,” he said
“I think that we need governments that are looking towards the longer term.
“We've seen some pretty ordinary examples of, for instance, pork barrelling and bushfire grants, which I think goes down very badly in the community.”
MP’s husband and son in support - 12.10pm
Former QPRC mayor Tim Overall was seen supporting his wife at the Queanbeyan South public school booth.
“I think it‘s going to be very close,” he said.
“Nichole has worked extraordinarily hard over the past 12 months and we've got a great crew of over 200 volunteers right across the electorate.
“So we've got our fingers crossed it’ll be close but she’ll come out in front.
Mr and Mrs overall’s son Nick, who works as a journalist in Orange, was seen supporting his mum.
The taste of democracy - 11.37am
Members of the Queanbeyan South Public School P&C whipped up community spirit and democracy sausages.
All funds from the sausage sizzle and bake sale will go towards school books and upgrades to the campus.
P&C member Michael Darman said the school community had scaled up its efforts after their success during the Monaro by-election last year.
“We've upgraded the stall,” he said.
“We actually took on some technology this year and are taking cards and cashless payments as well as cash.
“We've got a great idea of how many sausages we sold last year and yeah, we just made it bigger and better this year to put back to the community.”
“It's a very tight community, and I think the community spirit is strong.
“We've got the music going and then Bluetooth speakers and just having a bit of fun.”
Mrs Overall was seen having a taste of democracy after casting her vote.
Strong support for candidates at the booths - 11.10am
ACT Liberal MLA Mark Parton was seen outside Queanbeyan South public school campaigning for Mrs Overall
“I love what she does,” he said.
“I think she‘s a superb local member. We‘ve watched very closely across the border what she’s done here.
“And I think this city of Queanbeyan in this electorate will continue to flourish if Nicole is delivered again as the member here.”
QPRC Councillor Steve Taskovski was seen handing out flyers for Labor candidate Steve Whan.
“I’m here to support my friend,” he said.
“If (Whan) is elected I think the region will get back on its feet and continue to do the same job he's done.”
QPRC mayor Kenrick Winchester was spotted jogging past Queanbeyan south Public school.
“I think this is a fifth booth I‘ve been through this morning,” he said.
“I’ve just come and say hello to everyone… I‘ve had to do this myself many times and I know it’s exhausting.”
Federal Nationals mp Keith Pitt was seen supporting Mrs Overall at the booths.
“It‘s typical Canberra - it was pouring rain earlier, and now it’s got a bit warmer, but people are generally friendly,” he said.
“People are very happy to see Nicole even have been surprised.
“She’s very popular she knows (people) by name, and I think that puts her in good stead.”
Nats MP Overall hits up school polling booth - 9.57am
Incumbent Nationals Monaro MP Nichole Overall is at the Queanbeyan South Public School this morning.
She said things were picking up at the polling centre despite the wet weather.
“Our turnout has been okay this morning, not as strong as it‘s been in pre poll all week which has been incredibly strong,” she said.
“40 per cent of the electorate has already voted before the big day itself.”
Mrs Overall gave her final pitch to voters who may still be undecided.
“It’s been an absolute honour and privilege to serve as the 25th member for Monaro in the New South Wales parliament and of course is the first woman and it's more than 165 year history as well,” she said.
“I spent every day of the last 12 months out there doing the job, knowing what matters to the people who live in this wonderful electorate because what matters to them matters to me.
“I really look forward to the opportunity to continue to be their representative being able to stand up voiced their concerns, make sure that they're not being overlooked or left behind and (giving) exactly what they need to deliver into the future.”
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