Federal election 2022: Fowler votes, Dai Le the frontrunner

One of the most high profile candidates this election, Kristina Keneally, is at risk of losing a southwest Sydney seat the Labor Party has held since 1984.

For all the talk of teal independents, Australia’s most shocking upset could take place in the seat of Fowler, with the Labor party potentially losing the southwest Sydney seat it has held since its creation in 1984.

As of 10.30pm, independent Dai Le remains in the lead to win the seat with a primary vote 34.27 per cent, and leading 52-47 in the two-candidate preferred.

And the election night party was in full swing at Cabramatta Golf Club, as a 60th birthday party next door has spilled over.

Ms Le came to Australia as a refugee in the late 1970s, fleeing violence in southeast Asia, setting down roots in the area and working as a local journalist before getting into politics.

And in this election, it was her credentials as a local that saw her through to the finish line, after community backlash to Kristina Keneally being picked for the seat ahead of local lawyer Tu Le.

Party for @dai_le is going off as she looks set to win Fowler. #ausvotespic.twitter.com/WA6gCmKzxf

— Paul Brescia (@pwbrescia) May 21, 2022

Ms Le was a fierce advocate for southwest Sydney residents during the strict lockdowns of 2020 and 2021.

As for the potential win, Ms Le said she’s yet to even process it.

Potential winner of Fowler @dai_le said Kristina Keneally was "absolutely" the wrong candidate for Labor. #ausvotes#auspolpic.twitter.com/7iY4c8Kjs9

— Paul Brescia (@pwbrescia) May 21, 2022

Several voters at booths across the electorate told NewsLocal they were voting against Labor for the first time in this election, and were frustrated with the party for sending Ms Keneally in.

Meanwhile, at the Labor event, Kristina Keneally has given a speech to Labor supporters, telling them she “gave it everything she could” as the seat remains in the hold of independent Dai Le.

Incredibly, Labor won the seat with an outright majority in 2019, and is currently on track for a -20 per cent swing.

Ms Keneally has likened it to similar swings against Liberal candidates from the teal independents, casting the potential loss as part of a broader pattern in politics.

Keneally speaks to volunteers in Fowler. Says she gave it her best. pic.twitter.com/E6RQp4yNRk

— Paul Brescia (@pwbrescia) May 21, 2022

Labor volunteers at the Fowler campaign party were still in good spirits, as a strong national result from Labor covered the pain of a potential local loss.

Only 59,962 votes from 108,517 registered voters have been counted, so it will be a while before the full results are available.

Many of the pre-poll votes unable to be counted until later tonight, the AEC has forewarned.

Additionally, postal votes will not be counted until tomorrow.

‘Your vote is powerful’: Keneally’s final pitch in fight for Fowler

Braving the rain this morning, southwest Sydney residents lined up to vote, and bit into snags as the race for Fowler came into its final hours.

Southwest Sydney residents are lining up to vote and biting into snags as the race for Fowler comes into its final hours.

For frontrunner candidates Kristina Keneally (Labor) and Dai Le (independent), it’s shaping up to be a real race in a seat which has only ever been held by the Labor Party since its creation in 1984.

NewsLocal undertook an exit poll across two days at the St John’s Park Anglican Church across May 9 and 11, asking 100 voters who they voted for.

Kristina Keneally led the results with 39 per cent, followed closely by Dai Le on 34 per cent, hinting at a close race if voters across different booths follow a similar pattern.

The only poll that matters however, is the election result, which we will bring to you live as it filters through.

Voters at the PCYC Club, Cabramatta, casting their votes in the electorate of Fowler in the 2022 election. Picture: Paul Brescia

The sun cut through the clouds for a few hours early Saturday morning, as both Ms Keneally and Ms Le made their final pitches directly to the community of Fowler.

Labor candidate Kristina Keneally was handing out voting cards and taking photos with locals at the Harrington Street Public School booth.

“Your vote is powerful, your vote can change the country, and today we can change the country by voting Labor for government,” Ms Keneally said.

And a last minute pitch to Fowler voters from @KKeneally#auspol#ausvotes#Elections2022pic.twitter.com/cGnQp7u8nS

— Paul Brescia (@pwbrescia) May 21, 2022

Dai Le, appearing at the PCYC Club in Cabramatta, was spruiking her credentials as a local which lived through the lockdowns.

“You know that you need someone from the community who has lived from some of the challenges you have lived through to be your voice in parliament,” Ms Le said.

At the PCYC club in Cabramatta, @dai_le is giving her last minute pitch to locals in Fowler. #auspol#ausvotes#Elections2022pic.twitter.com/uTlYS3YRat

— Paul Brescia (@pwbrescia) May 20, 2022

NewsLocal spoke with local voters out early, and asked them why they picked the candidates they did.

For some, it was loyalty, and following tradition.

At Harrington Street Public School, Vanessa Nguyen and Tyrus Soy said they were voting for the Greens candidate, Avery Howard, “because it’s what their family did.”

Antonietta Pipitone grabbed an early morning coffee at St John’s Park Anglican Church after voting Liberal.

Antonietta Pipitone grabbing a morning coffee after casting her vote at St John's Park Anglican Church in the electorate of Fowler, southwest Sydney. Picture: Paul Brescia

“I voted for the Liberal party,” Ms Pipetoni said. “I’m not sure why. I always vote for the Liberals.”

The snag situation is looking a little poor however, with only one of three booths visited by NewsLocal offering a democracy sausage to voters. That’s at St John’s Park Anglican Church, on Edensor Road.

Dylan Hoedt got to enjoy a snag after casting a vote for Labor, and said, “I think their policies are more targeted towards our multicultural western Sydney society.”

There were none to be found at either the PCYC club in Cabramatta or Harrington Street Public School.