Whitlam votes: Labor MP Stephen Jones ‘honoured’ to be re-elected

Despite a small swing against him, Stephen Jones has managed to retain his grip on the Labor stronghold of Whitlam.

Labor’s Stephen Jones has been re-elected in Whitlam (formerly Throsby) for the fourth time with the outcome settled before 8pm on the election evening.

Mr Jones has more than 45 per cent of the vote with around a fifth of the ballots still to be counted, however, he’s experienced a 3.3 per cent swing against him.

Those votes have been spread out amongst the other candidates with the Liberal’s Mike Cains a 2.8 per cent swing in his favour.

The Liberals look to have gained around 1 per cent on Labor in the two-party-prefered stakes, however, Mr Jones will still hold the seat by around 10 per cent.

Tonight the people of Australia have declared an end to the Climate Wars.

— Stephen Jones MP (@StephenJonesMP) May 21, 2022

The Greens’ Jamie Dixon has experienced a boost of around 1.2 per cent to see his first preference vote push into double figures, while One Nation grabbed nearly 7 per cent of the vote.

United Australia and Allan Wode suffered a 3.3 per cent swing against, perhaps in part to the messy departure of candidate Timothy Banfield a couple of months out from the election.

Mr Jones said it was an “honour” to get re-elected and he’s looking forward to implementing Labor’s campaign commitments.

“I am very pleased and very honoured to represent the region once again and I want to thank the people of Whitlam,” he said.

“I am very excited. We have made some great commitments to the local area from sporting fields, to funding the Southern Highlands Art Gallery, funds to upgrade roads, but also commitments to childcare and aged care and a commitment to establishing an ICAC and getting wages moving again.”

Mr Jones, who was the Shadow Assistant Treasurer and the Shadow Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation, said he wouldn’t be asking the incoming Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for greater responsibility in the Labor Party.

Whitlam MP Stephen Jones at the announcement of Alison Byrnes running for Cunningham earlier this year. Picture: Dylan Arvela

“I am very excited to do whatever Anthony decides, but I am proud of the work we have done in [the financial services and superannuation] area,” he said.

Mr Jones also said Saturday night’s result was an emphatic “end to the climate wars” and had words of encouragement for his colleagues in neighbouring Cunningham, where Alison Byrnes won her first election, and Gilmore, where Fiona Phillips is fighting to hold off former NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance.

“I think Australia has voted to end the climate wars,” he said.

“Australians want a better and more honest government that’s focused on the needs of the people and not political games.

“I am really pleased for Alison Byrnes, she will make a sensational Member for Cunningham and at this stage Gilmore is too close to call, but Fiona is still in it.”