NSW election 2023: Drummoyne falls marginally short, Labor figures frustrated at ‘Balmain bias’

It was the inner city electorate which could’ve seen Labor form a majority government. Now, after falling marginally short, Labor insiders have criticised the campaign support from party HQ amid accusations of a ‘Balmain bias’.

Anthony Albanese and Chris Minns have a beer at the Unity pub in Balmain. The seat of Balmain was targeted heavily by Labor. Picture: Damian Shaw

Frustrated Labor insiders have pointed to a perceived lack of HQ support in the inner city seat of Drummoyne, with candidate Julia Little set to fall marginally short amid perceptions of bias towards neighbouring electorate Balmain.

As the party teeters on the edge of a majority government, insiders argue a more concerted effort could have elected Ms Little and pushed Labor closer to the magical 47 seats.

The electorate in Sydney’s inner west was held for more than a decade by Liberal, then independent, John Sidoti who retired from politics last year after ICAC found him corrupt. The seat looks poised to be won by Liberal Canada Bay deputy mayor Stephanie Di Pasqua.

Labor Party insiders, however, were frustrated by a lack of campaign support in Drummoyne given Ms Little was only 1400 votes short after a largely rank-and-file-run campaign.

“They put virtually nothing into Drummoyne,” one senior Labor insider, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said. “Local rank-and-file had to raise their own funds and campaigned on a shoestring.”

Julia Little (centre) and federal MP Sally Sitou (right) on election day.

By contrast, in neighbouring Balmain, more money, resources and senior MP visits were allocated to help elect Inner West deputy mayor Philippa Scott, who herself fell short to The Greens candidate Kobi Shetty.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, whose own federal electorate Grayndler encompasses Balmain, paid multiple visits to support candidate Ms Scott – even at the local pub where the party was founded.

Labor rolled out the red carpet in an attempt to claw back Balmain from the Greens, which just fell short. At the Unity pub in Balmain with candidate Philippa Scott (left). Picture: Damian Shaw

“Balmain got a lot of support from the ‘Albanese machine’ – he was available for street walks, you name it,” one senior strategist said.

The senior strategist said “one more leaflet drop” could have tipped it.

“Another final leaflet would have delivered a different result,” they said.

Stephanie Di Pasqua (left) and Dominic Perrottet visit Pasticceria Papa in the Drummoyne electorate during the campaign. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

Rank-and-file party members, who spoke to this publication on the condition of anonymity, shared frustrations about Sussex St’s desire to not focus on Ms Di Pasqua’s links to Mr Sidoti, who she worked for as an electorate officer.

Mr Sidoti remains a divisive figure in Drummoyne where he retains a large amount of support but lost others after ICAC handed down its findings, something Labor figures felt should have been jumped on.

“I understand they wanted to run a clean campaign, but it wouldn’t have hurt to reference it,” a party insider said.

John Sidoti announced his retirement from politics in late 2022. Picture: Richard Dobson

Another strategist said the party “failed to understand the implications of the ICAC inquiry (into Mr Sidoti)” and how it could have been used.

NSW Labor declined to comment.

However, Labor sources told this publication while Drummoyne was “targeted with a central spend on mail and digital advertising”, internal polling showed Ms Di Pasqua gaining about 47 per cent of first-preference votes and the party was “pessimistic” given there was no other right-wing candidate in the race.

Neither One Nation or the Liberal Democrats ran candidates, giving Ms Di Pasqua a clear run at the centre-right and right vote.

Ms Di Pasqua attracted about 48 per cent of the first-preference vote, with 75 per cent of votes currently counted, although Ms Little cut her margin to about 1.7 per cent after preferences were tallied.

News tip? Email [e-mail]