Tough battle ahead for Kingsford Smith as Liberals pounce on the smallest margin in seat’s history

KINGSFORD  Smith is the seat to watch on Saturday, with a tight vote expected to come down to second-party preferences as the two major contenders battle on.

The battle of Kingsford Smith is likely to be a close run contest that could be tipped by second party preferences. (L-R) Liberal candidate Michael Feneley, Greens candidate James Macdonald and Labor MP Matt Thistlethwaite. Picture: Daniel Aarons

KINGSFORD  Smith is the seat to watch on Saturday, with a tight vote expected to come down to second-party preferences as the two major contenders battle on.

The marginal seat needs a swing of just 2.7 per cent ‒ the lowest in history ‒ to turn the Labor electorate into a Liberal seat for the first time since it was proclaimed in 1949.

While pockets of the electorate are Labor strongholds, the Liberals have chipped away at the primary vote and could walk away victorious.

Health Workers Sophie Jacob, Martin Gray and Kathy Power listen to Incumbent Member for Kingsford Smith Matt Thistlethwaite outside Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick. Picture: John Appleyard

With only five days left to go until polling day on July 2, Labor is setting the agenda in Kingsford Smith with a traditional ALP campaign again based on health.

Federal Labor MP Matt Thistlethwaite, who is defending the seat he won in 2013, said: “With an ageing population and many young families in our community it is clear better health services are the key priority for the people of Kingsford Smith.”

Both candidates have a personal connection to the public health system ‒ Mr Thistlethwaite’s wife Rachel is a nurse who knows the challenges within hospitals, while Liberal candidate Michael Feneley is head of Heart Lung Clinical Stream and Cardiology at St Vincent’s Hospital.

“I have devoted my life to making sure people are healthy,” Dr Feneley said.

“I care deeply about ensuring that the health system we have ‒ the envy of the world ‒ is preserved and maintained.”

Liberal candidate for Kingsford Smith Dr Michael Feneley shares a laugh with Prem Maharaj while on the hustings outside Royal Randwick Shopping Centre. Picture: John Appleyard

The UNSW academic has been doing the hard yards to win votes, claiming he had “worn out five pairs of shoes” on the hustings, chasing the votes of blue-collar workers with a plan to reinvigorate small business which he described as the “engine room of NSW”.

Meanwhile, Mr Thistlethwaite has held street stalls, mobile offices, visited local businesses and doorknocked thousands of homes.

He has focused on Labor’s plan to finish the Gonski reforms to provide more subject choices, better support for students with disabilities and more teacher resources.

In the final stretch of the marathon election campaign there have been few true policy offerings from either side to attract voter attention.

Matt Thistlethwaite MP said the Labor Party had pledged $10 million to keep Botany Aquatic Centre open all year right, a promise that Botany’s deputy mayor Stan Kondilios said the council would match. Picture: Craig Wilson

The Liberals have given a $20 million grant to the Children’s Cancer Institute and the Sydney Children’s Hospital at Randwick towards the Zero Childhood Cancer collaboration.

While Labor’s election sweeteners include $175 million to duplicate a freight line at Port Botany, $180,000 for Kingsford Legal Centre and $10 million for Botany Aquatic Centre.

Kingsford Smith has been in Labor hands since it was proclaimed in 1949 but Dr Feneley, who is taking his third swipe at the marginal seat, needs only a 2.74 per cent swing to win.

“It’s likely to be a close election and it’s likely to come to preferences,” Dr Feneley said.

Kingsford Smith Liberal candidate Michael Feneley talks to owner of Botany Cranes Damian Griffiths about the government's business tax policy. Picture: Danny Aarons

Labor promises to: Invest $175 million to duplicate the freight rail line starting at Port Botany and remove about 300,000 trucks off local roads; Deliver $180,000 funding over three years to Kingsford Legal Centre for frontline legal services to help survivors of domestic violence and; Provide $10 million to upgrade the Botany Aquatic Centre and open its doors all year round.

Baylei McGuigan on her horse Angus, Kylie Wessells on her horse Phoenix and Hannah McKinney on her horse Bear. Moving the South East Equestrian Club back to the Malabar Headlands has been a hot political potato this election campaign. Picture: John Appleyard