Thank you for joining us as NewsLocal reporters in communities across the state bring you the very latest in the Federal Election 2022.
Reporters will continue to bring you stories in the shaddow of the election in the coming days.
Federal Election 2022: Live coverage as polls close, results roll in
Gilmore hopeful Andrew Constance and Bennelong's Jerome Laxale both face an anxious wait to claim victory in their seats. See the latest results as they happen in your community in our live blog.
More than 1.6 million voters have already cast their ballots across NSW and the ACT in the lead up to the Federal Election — as millions more prepare to decide who will lead the country when booths open on Saturday morning.
Polling places in communities across the country will open at 8am and close for ballot counting at 6pm, with the Australian Electoral Commission employing more than 100,000 booth workers for May 21.
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Commission guidelines for the Federal Election suggest the vast majority of voters will be expected to visit polling booths in their local community to cast their vote, however anyone Covid-positive will be eligible to register for phone voting — if you test positive after 6pm Tuesday 17 May.
You must register to phone vote by 4pm on Saturday, with voting lines open until 6pm.
LINK TO REGISTER HERE
More Coverage
Updates
'A complete rollercoaster': Scamps claims Mackellar
The new member for Mackellar, Dr Sophie Scamps, told the Manly Daily late on Saturday night that the day had been a "complete rollercoaster ride".
"We were certainly hopeful and this is what we were working for every single day, so hard," she said.
"In one way we can believe it, and in another way we can't believe it."
Voting for a brighter future, for climate action, for integrity and for genuine representation for my community in Mackellar.
— Dr Sophie Scamps (@SophieScamps) May 21, 2022
We can do this Mackellar!! 🗳
Vote 1 Sophie Scamps! #MackellarVotes #AusVotes22 pic.twitter.com/2ji1JVCBrz
Dr Scamps put her victory down to a general sentiment across the electorate that voters had "been ignored, neglected and taken for granted for way too long".
"We had a representative who was just towing the party line and not acutally listening to the people and would vote in opposition to the views and values of this community."
Sea of teal supports Spender in Wentworth
As teal placards, t-shirts, and even dog bandanas lined the streets of Sydney’s east in recent days, the growing support for Allegra Spender was clear.
And now, it seems that high profile presence of the independent candidate for the marginal seat of Wentworth has paid off.
Speaking to the sea of teal after she was predicted to win the seat, Ms Spender said she was in awe of the number of people who engaged in politics for the first time in order to back her.
Fighting back tears, she said her supporters stood for taking responsibility, compassion and the future as opposed to blaming, division and the past.
“This is an act of defiance against the status quo and a defiance against the cynicism,” she said.
As teal placards, t-shirts and even dog bandanas lined the streets of Sydney’s east in recent weeks, the growing support for @spenderallegra became clear. Now, it seems her high profile presence in #Wentworth has paid off. #Ausvotes #AusPol #Elections2022 pic.twitter.com/ju9yVmtU0E
— Clare Sibthorpe (@ClareSibthorpe) May 21, 2022
“We know what we stand for and we will stand up. We put our faith in the fact we can act on climate. We can put our faith in that we can act on integrity in politics and we can put our faith in that we can act on women in politics.
“That’s the bit the Coalition didn’t remember.”
Those words were met with a roar of cheers as her joyous supporters – many of them tearful – clapped and whistled to almost every line of Ms Spender’s speech.
“We are invested in the democracy of this country and we will continue to make that investment year on year on year,” she said.
“For a lot of people, this is the first time you’ve been engaged in politics and you have been so engaged. And that’s because this is not about the parties, this is about the community.”
An equally joyous and emotional Ms Spender did not abstain from humor, noting the many people who came into her campaign hesitant to even vote for her.
“Then they go, “oh look, I’ll wear a cap,” she said.
“And then, ‘we might get a bumper sticker on the car’. It’s a big step to don the teal t-shirt. Then people started going ‘you know, I’m into this’, then it was knocking on the neighbours’ [doors], accosting people in parks, the pictures and the banners and the houses, and today I saw an entire caravan for Allegra Spender.”
'A tough day': Sharma concedes in Wentworth
The Sharma camp raised the roof in support of the outgoing Liberal MP despite a stunning loss as he arrived at his election party in Rose Bay.
“It’s been a tough day at the office,” Mr Sharma opened, in a concession speech that honed in on the Liberal MP’s achievements during his past three years in office.
“It’s a real privilege to put yourself forward as a candidate,” Mr Sharma said.
His speech placed its focus on the hard work of his supporters in an electorate that became dangerous territory for some Coalition leaders to visit, weakening national Liberal support for the campaign.
“We together have achieved a lot in Wentworth these past four years. We’ve supported our local community and the nation,” he said.
“We have more small businesses now operating in Wentworth. We’ve got more women in jobs in Wentworth. We’ve got more support for mental health here in Wentworth. We’ve got more support for domestic violence assistance here in Wentworth. We’ve got more support for surf clubs.”
Couldn’t do this without my very supportive family. 🙏🏼
— Dave Sharma (@DaveSharma) May 21, 2022
Casting our votes today at Paddington. pic.twitter.com/eIsADFBdVK
Mr Sharma reflected on the wider loss for the party, including several moderate candidates across the country.
“It’s clear that several, indeed a large number of my colleagues are doing it tough right now,” he said.
“And if we cannot keep them tonight we have to make sure there is a space for their views in the party. We as a party will have many lessons to learn from this evening.”
Mr Sharma was able to crack at least one joke about the evening’s turn of events, noting another campaign – to save beloved late night eatery Indian Home Diner, looked like a winner.
“We’re on track to save Indian Home Diner!”
– Bianca Healey
Labor claiming Parramatta
Labor has claimed victory in Parramatta where controversial candidate Andrew Charlton has raced away to a convincing lead, holding 54.40 per cent of the two-party preferred vote ahead of Liberal hopeful Maria Kovacic who trails with 45.60 per cent.
At the Collector Hotel in Parramatta, a euphoric crowd greeted Mr Charlton by chanting his name as he embraced supporters in a sea of red T-shirts.
Labor is racing away with a win in Parramatta where the crowd is poised to welcome Andrew Charlton pic.twitter.com/ZDibUpC8yJ
— Parramatta Advertiser (@Parramatta_News) May 21, 2022
“It was a huge challenge to win the seat of Parramatta,’’ he said, before adding that “to be your candidate for Parramatta was the honour of my life and, tonight, that honour turns into a responsibility”.
“I want you to know that I will work as hard as I can to deliver for the people of Parramatta.’’
Durga Owen, who was overlooked for preselection in favour of Mr Charlton, was directing the already noisy throng to chant “Andrew” and “Labor” to prepare for his entry.
Libs reclaim Hughes from Craig Kelly
Liberal’s Jenny Ware has claimed victory in Hughes after a hard-fought battle with former MP Craig Kelly, independent Georgia Steele and Labor’s Riley Campbell.
“It feels to amazing to have won. I am so glad the hard work that my team put in has paid off and I thank the people of Hughes who have put their trust in me and I will not let them down,” she said at her victory party.
“It will be an absolute privilege to serve them in the national parliament.”
Ms Ware said she felt relieved, exhausted and the win would likely take a couple of days to sink in.
“I’m ready to do the work. I have done the work leading into the campaign. I am ready, willing and able,” she said
“I have been voted in by the people of Hughes. My job is to be the best member for Hughes if that is in opposition or government so be it.
“My job is to advocate, fight and serve the people of Hughes.”
Situo arrives to Labor celebrations in Reid
It’s almost party time at Labor’s Reid HQ as candidate Sally Sitou arrived to raucous and ecstatic applause in a speech claiming victory in the Sydney marginal.
Ms Sitou asked the packed Labor crowd to imagine what her win would mean for her parents, who fled the Vietnam War.
“My parents were Laotian who fled the war in Vietnam, if you talked about politics it could get you killed,” Ms Sitou. “Imagine what this moment means for them.”
Sally Sitou claims victory in Reid, saying voters chose integrity and a better future for all #AusVotes22 pic.twitter.com/jecr0SyAJc
— Alexi Demetriadi (@ADemetriadi) May 21, 2022
Ms Sitou said she was elected by the community to prioritise integrity and compassion.
“I will always fight for Reid,” she said.
“The policies and decisions of government matter. Fairness, science and integrity in politics matters.”
Ms Sitou said she’s proud to be elected by a community that welcomed her parents and wants to fight for their interests in parliament.
“You are not defined by your postcode or where you’re from,” she said.
“In Australia, you are defined by the content of your character and what you do for others.”
Labor snatches Reid from Libs
Labor candidate for Reid Sally Sitou has claimed victory for the seat of Reid, winning the seat from incumbent Liberal MP Fiona Martin.
At Reid’s Labor HQ, Ms Sitou claimed victory about 10.15pm and thanked her parents, staff and the voters of the electorate for entrusting her to represent them in parliament.
“This community has voted for fairness, integrity in government and a better future for all,” she said.
Votes are still being counted in Reid and incumbent Liberal MP Fiona Martin has yet to concede the seat, but it would be an incredible shock if Ms Sitou didn’t take victory from this position.
Former Reid MP John Murphy, who held the seat for Labor from 2010-2013, said he’s both relieved and elated that it appeared the seat was turning red once again.
“Sally worked extremely hard to engage with the whole community and people have responded to that,” he said.
“I’m very proud and I know she’ll make a fantastic member for Reid.”
'Bennelong too close to call': Lib candidate
Speaking to a more sombre room earlier tonight, the Liberal candidate for Bennelong Simon Kennedy reiterated the vote is still too close to call.
“It’s been a very tough campaign and it’s too close to call,” Mr Kennedy said.
“We’re not going to know the result … for a couple of days.”
Meanwhile, just after 10pm, ‘Solidarity Forever’ was sung at Jarome Laxale’s post-election party.
Repacholi ready to serve
Labor’s Dan Repacholi has formally claimed victory in the seat of Hunter, thanking his family and supporters and his “128,000 new bosses”.
With nearly half of the vote counted, Mr Repacholi had enjoyed a small swing to Labor despite the retirement of long-term member Joel Fitzgibbon.
His primary vote count of 38.6 per cent saw him more than 7000 votes ahead of his main challenger, National Party candidate James Thomson, while the One Nation vote tanked.
Labor’s Dan Repacholi gets rock star welcome from supporters at Cessnock as he claims victory in Hunter. pic.twitter.com/n4lMhySuhh
— Dan Proudman (@Proudman74) May 21, 2022
“Not one person did this. We did this together as a team, a team made this happen,” Mr Repacholi told his supporters at Cessnock Leagues Club.
“And that‘s all that matters at the end of the day, because Labor is a team and will continue to be a team forever.
“I‘d like to thank the people of the Hunter. I’d like to thank the voters. “Honestly – thank you voters for giving me this opportunity to represent you.
“There‘s 128,000 bosses.”
Mr Repacholi also thanked the other candidates for “making this as enjoyable as possible” before turning to his family.
“I cannot do this without their support.,” he said.
“The most supportive people I‘ve ever had. We’ve gone through an Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and now an election campaign. So thank you.”
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